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Ace in the hole: Father-son duo capitalizes on poker craze |
VISTA ---- Their business
has only been open since January, but the father-son duo of Barry and Matt Dodd
have more stars in their eyes than the Las Vegas Strip.
The Dodds have just opened Casino Dealers Academy, a disheveled little shop at
732-D E. Vista Way that boasts eight weeks of training at $800 to become a
certified card dealer.
A storefront sign reminds passers-by in large letters that dealers can make $50,000 in starting salaries. Walk inside, and plush green tables with fake dollar bills and chip stacks face the entrance. Mirrors line the wall, and toward the back, an empty expanse with mismatched tile awaits more training tables.
Barry Dodd, with a
twinkle in his blue eyes, admits the shop is still under construction. No
matter, he said, there are big plans in store for the Dodd men.
He is not bluffing.
Although Casino Dealers Academy only has 14 students, the Dodds plan to open two
more shops in San Diego within the next nine months, Barry Dodd said.
"There seems to be a constant need for dealers," Barry Dodd said. "There is
poker on TV all the time. It's just becoming the rage."
Indeed. The "World Poker Tour" is a top-rated series on the Travel Channel. The
Bravo Channel also has a popular show called "Celebrity Poker Showdown," with
such movie stars as Ben Affleck, Jack Black and Martin Sheen playing Texas Hold
'Em for charity. Fox Sports Net also has a "Late Nite Poker" show.
"The need for blackjack and Pai Gow dealers has not decreased, but the poker
demand has just skyrocketed," Barry Dodd said.
Matt Dodd, who has worked in the casino industry for 12 years, is a senior floor
supervisor at Pala Casino in addition to his duties as instructor at the
academy.
Working at a casino has its perks, Matt Dodd said, citing flexible schedules
since casinos are generally open 24 hours a day.
Student Kris O'Connor said Wednesday that he hopes the job comes with a fun
atmosphere. While fiddling with poker chips and cards at the Vista academy,
O'Connor said that after driving a rig for nine years, he was ready for a career
change.
"I like cards," he said, smiling. "And you can joke with people. Instead of
worrying about who just cut me off, and huffin' and puffin' about it behind the
wheel ... this job seems less stressful."
Students who enroll in the academy must attend 96 hours of class to obtain the
certificate, according to the Dodds, who have broken the classes down into three
hours a day, four days a week.
Matt Dodd teaches students how to deal the cards, handle the chips, watch the
table and ensure that players are following the rules, among other duties, he
said.
The only other card dealer school the Dodds are aware of in North County is one
opened by Matt Dodd's friend in Escondido in December, North County Dealer's
School.
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