I founded and ran a dealer school in Romania, combining practical training with the responsibilities of managing my own business. I trained more than 40 aspiring dealers, with graduates going on to work in Romanian casinos and on cruise ships.

Alongside the school, I provided gaming tables and organised casino-themed entertainment for private events, including weddings and corporate team-building activities. These events also gave trainees opportunities to practise their technical skills and interact with guests.

This experience shaped the way I teach: clear explanations, repeated practice and individual guidance to build both technical ability and professional confidence.

During the period when I was running my dealer school in Romania, I was also involved in opening a casino in Pitești. I recruited a substantial number of the dealers I had trained to join the new casino team, creating a direct connection between their training and employment.

My involvement brought together dealer preparation, recruitment and supporting the team’s transition into live casino operations. It gave me practical experience in helping a new team move from training tables to the responsibilities of working with guests.

This project remains an important part of my approach to casino openings: preparing people for the roles they will perform and connecting training with the operational needs of the casino.

Working in Kinshasa and Monrovia introduced me to different casino environments, international teams and demanding operational situations.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my work included dealing private VIP poker games and supervising live table games. In Liberia, my responsibilities expanded into floor supervision, shift management, staff recruitment and guest relations.

These experiences strengthened my ability to adapt, lead calmly under pressure and communicate with people from different backgrounds.

For a casino opening in Dubrovnik in 2016–2017, I recruited 20 dealers and inspectors from Romania and spent five months training Croatian dealers.

The training covered Roulette, Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Oasis Poker, Three Card Poker and Russian Poker, combining technical practice with table procedures and guest communication.

This project brought together recruitment, training and preparing a new team for live operations—experience that directly informs the casino opening support I offer today.

I was brought in to support the operational recovery of the casino at Ledger Hotel in Bangui during a period of serious financial and management difficulties. The assignment required a detailed review of day-to-day operations, financial records and outstanding issues.

My responsibilities included reviewing cash desk activity, checking balances and supporting documentation, clarifying contractual arrangements and following up on outstanding amounts owed by clients. This involved sensitive discussions with key clients and careful examination of the information available.

I worked to identify discrepancies, clarify responsibilities and address weaknesses in operational procedures and financial controls. The role required discretion, persistence and a practical approach to resolving problems in a challenging environment.

This experience strengthened my ability to assess unfamiliar operations, investigate inconsistencies and help management establish clearer procedures and accountability.

From 2017 to 2019, I worked as a Casino Shift Manager across two locations in Accra, with responsibilities spanning daily operations, team supervision and staff development.

My work included improving cash desk opening and closing procedures, supporting restaurant service improvements, introducing live games and strengthening guest relations. Training and communication between departments were central to this work.

This experience reinforced my understanding that operational improvement depends on how people, procedures and departments work together.

Over the past five years, I have been based in Austria, where I settled with my young child. During this period, I continued recruiting for casinos while choosing to remain based locally rather than take on assignments requiring relocation.

This allowed me to stay connected to the industry and apply my operational and training experience to understanding recruitment needs and assessing candidates for casino roles.

Alongside recruitment, I developed skills in search engine optimisation (SEO), digital content creation and online communication. These skills now support the development of Aniela Casino Consulting and the way I present my services and connect with potential clients and candidates.

Today, I bring together my experience on the casino floor, in team development and recruitment to offer practical support tailored to each project.