A cage cashier is the person responsible for handling various monetary tasks within a casino environment. These tasks might include things such as making change, exchanging chips for cash, cashing out electronic gambling machine vouchers, running credit checks and performing basic bookkeeping tasks. In many areas, a license is required to hold a cage cashier position. Some casinos even require this person to walk around the casino floor, cashing out various items and making change on the spot, then returning to the cage to verify everything.
Cage cashiers generally have a cashier’s stand, or cage, in which they stand for the duration of their shift to perform their duties. The daily tasks tend to consist of exchanging chips for cash and cashing out electronic gaming machine vouchers. A cashier also might cash checks for customers. Given the fact that the position relies heavily on customer interaction, it is vital for each cashier to possess great customer service skills.
Duties might go beyond simple cash exchanges in some casinos. Depending on the casino, the cage cashier also might be in charge of running credit checks on customers who desire to open a line of credit with the casino or processing credit card cash advances for customers. Many areas require tax reporting paperwork if earnings reach a certain point, and a cage cashier might process this paperwork for the customer.
In addition to the standard cashier duties involved in the position, a cage cashier is responsible for ensuring that all cash, credit slips and gambling chips are accounted for and reconciled at the end of his or her shift. If a discrepancy arises, he or she generally is expected to help find the error and fix it. These additional duties make it useful for the cashier to have basic bookkeeping knowledge.
A high school diploma generally is the only requirement for one to be a cage cashier, but a few other skills might also be helpful. Strong math skills, basic bookkeeping abilities and strong organization skills might make the duties easier to perform. A cage cashier is considered an entry-level position, and on-the-job training is offered at many casinos, so many people interested in working in a casino might choose to start with this position to gain an understanding of the industry before deciding whether they would like to continue working in it.