Boardwalk and Marina Casino Dealer School

The Boardwalk and Marina Casino Dealer School (known as Casino Dealers School, CDS) is a private Casino school in New Jersey.
CDS was founded by Arnold Hasson and Steven Edelblum in 1986. The School, which taught all casino table games, (ie. Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Poker, Pai Gow, Pai Gow Poker, etc.) with a high concentration in the syllabus to edify the importance of excellent Customer Service and maintaining excellent employee relations. The school was the first private gaming school in New Jersey to become accredited, and the only one, as of 2011.
CDS was an accredited member of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). Casino Dealers School was also Certified by the United States Department of Education and Licensed by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. CDS..."The School you need to Succeed," was often referred to as the "Harvard" of dealing schools. Over 3,500 graduate students received high paying jobs. In July of 2001 the school elected to close its doors because, at the time, there were only 12 existing casinos and no new casinos were expected to open in the near future, as such, Casino dealing jobs in Atlantic City, became scarce.
The school grew from a 1,500 square foot store front facility, at 2709 Atlantic Avenue, in 1986 to what became one of America's largest private gaming schools, with over 11,000 square feet of casino-like training space, including actual casino games and lab areas.
In 1988, with the help of Edelblum, CDS became the first gaming school to operate in an actual casino. The Casino Control Commission gave unanimous approval for the Casino Dealers School to operate inside a gaming hall for the first time. Under a pilot program Casino Dealers School was allowed to run a gaming school, Monday through Thursday, on the third floor of Elsinore's Atlantis Casino Hotel, for unemployed, underemployed and welfare recipients.
The third level of the casino floor of Elsinore's Atlantis Casino Hotel was redesigned in the early 80's to cater to high rollers. It was an effort that failed, but because of that failure, the plush casino became the site of a casino school. Four days a week, when that casino level was closed to the general public, at various time sessions, 15 area residents met over two craps tables, roulette, and Blackjack tables, to learn a new skill that they hoped would lift them out of poverty and put them on the road to economic independance.(Refer to press of Atlantic City articles dated: 12/09/1988-A DEALERS SCHOOL TO OPEN IN CASINO; and 2/28/1989-THE REAL THING IT'S A CASINO DEALERS' COURSE STUDENTS HOPE WILL LEAD THEM TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS).
In 1990 the school added the former 6,000 square foot Jules men's clothing store (on Atlantic Ave.,in Atlantic City, directly in front of Caesar's casino) as a branch facility. In 1991 after Edelblum left the company, William (Bill) Petillo took over as Director and the school moved both locations from Atlantic Avenue to the career and education complex building, formally the CSI building, adjacent to the Atlantic City Convention Center, at: 1923 Bacharach Boulevard, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Additionally, when it became evident that there was also becoming a shortage of office professionals in the Atlantic City area, the school added Computer and Office Technology training to its syllabus in 1998.
Sources:
Press of Atlantic City, The : BUSINESS BRIEFS
Press of Atlantic City, The - NewsBank - Jan 29, 1989
Press of Atlantic City, The : PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
Press of Atlantic City, The - NewsBank - Nov 12, 1989

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