Dennis McCollum is Named Dealer of the Year

Poker News - July 13, 2009 - Written by Bonnie

It was over 28 years ago, 1981,  that Dennis McCollum started a career as a poker dealer in New York. It was the underground games that McCollum really took a liking to and in no time, he was taking his career on the road and moving to Nevada, where all the card action takes place. The career of a dealer was much different back in those days. Today's dealers go through extensive training courses to prepare them for the job but It was years of first hand experience that landed McCollum where he is today.

It was 1989 when McCollum got in on the action with the World Series of Poker. Players back then were a little more aggressive and often rude to the dealers. Today's atmosphere is a little more controlled and the dealers are treated with much more respect for the game. McCollum has had the honor of dealing to some of the greatest names in poker, such as Phil Hellmuth and Phil Ivey.Being a class act that he is, McCollum stopped himself from naming any players that were less than friendly to dealers but has made mention of a player or too that he has dealt to that some would say, lacked people skills. . He is at the top of his game with his career and it continues to improve year after year. McCollum managed to make it thus far through the 2009 WSOP without having the floor called to his table. Really knowing your job is a good way to ensure fairness, but staying focused and paying attention to the action on the table, is what make you a successful dealer.

Before the start of Day 4 activities, Tournament Director Jack Effel was proud to announce that McCollum had been named the Dealer of the Year. McCollum was awarded a memorable matted photo of himself dealing and a Corum watch. McCollum was thrilled to be acknowledge in this manner and has high hopes for his next career move. McCollum hopes to advance from table to a floor supervisor for " One of the greatest tournament directors in the world, Jack Effel. I've put in my request for next year, we'll just have to wait and see what happens", he said.