Dealer hopes a better hand is in the cards

If you have ever been to the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino and spent any amount of time wheeling and dealing on the green felt tables, you may have had the opportunity to meet Hilbert San Nicolas.

You may remember his name, you may remember his face, but if you played at one of his tables, you will definitely remember his personality. The only locally born dealer at the casino, Hilbert San Nicolas has offered hi services for the past three and a half years.

Hilbert originally joined the casino as a security officer, but was given the opportunity to become a dealer by then trainer Kathy Clark who said, “Just have some laughs, and be able to relax.”

“For one thing, Chamorros like to laugh. We like to joke around a lot, so it comes natural to me. When I meet with a player the first time he plays on my table I try to find ways to make a connection with that player. Even if they don’t speak English, I try to make them laugh because even if they win or lose they leave my table happy.””

Hilbert said that the training staff at the casino encourages the dealer to make the customer happy, but he believes that it all comes down to the personal style of the individual. He said that if the dealer can be relaxed with their players, then it makes the game go much easier for everybody.

Though he has managed to become a success at the casino, Hilbert has a full schedule away from work as well. Aside from a second job as a Lead Teacher working for the Tinian Head Start Program, the family man has been in a loving relationship with his girlfriend for over nine years that has yielded two children.

Unfortunately for the Dynasty and all of their patrons, Hilbert will be taking a break from the gaming industry in favor of his education.

Hilbert is going back to Saipan to attend Northern Marianas College where he intends to complete his bachelor’s degree in Education. Afterwards he plans on returning to Tinian and rejoining the Dynasty family.

“I have to go and finish my degree as a father and as a person. With that degree I will have the credentials to do anything anywhere, at anytime, and also be a role model for my children.”

He is leaving as a Dealer Instructor, and he hopes to return and work his way up to a supervisor, but his plans don’t stop there.

“When I come back I’ll be at the same level, and hopefully work up from there again and maybe be the first Chamorro Pit Manager in the CNMI. Hopefully from there, if we have more casinos developed on Tinian, eventually become one of the first General Managers.”

Casino general manager Ken Barberis said that Hilbert has been a model employee and an asset to the community. Barberis has had his eye on Hilbert for quite some time now, demonstrating time and again that he is more than just an average dealer.

“Hilbert’s amazing. He really has the ability to relax people into interacting with him. We’ve had a lot of tournaments recently, and we’ve gotten him into the tournaments pretty quick, and he has become sort of an integral part of them because of his personality. He’s got a huge personality.”

The general manager said that San Nicolas has a number of qualities, and noted his ability to accept a position at a lower wage than he could probably achieve elsewhere, with a larger goal in sight.

Hilbert explained that anyone interested in a position in the casino has to look at the bigger picture—the opportunities for a bright future that could be available to someone who enjoys the job as much as he has.

“If you give this enough thought, it could lead you to a very promising career. I try to encourage some of the locals because once they’re in, the promise of having a great career is up to them. It’s something that makes you think twice about what you do as a person and as an individual with this company. If you come here thinking that you are just going to get the wage, get the pay, get in-get out, you’re never going to grow.”

Hilbert credits his success to the quality of the management staff at the casino, the freedom that they give him to excel, and their ability to work together.

“Let’s say that you work for McDonald’s, and your supervisor is the cashier and you are the order taker. If you two knock heads all of the time, you’re not going to enjoy your job. When you’re given the freedom to do your work and do as you will within the limitations of your position, then you will go very far.”

This won’t be the end of his time at the Dynasty for the personable San Nicolas, and it will be his commitment to himself and to his family that will continue to create his road to success.

“I’m a dealer now, but one of these days I’ll be the one telling the dealer what to do. After that I’ll be the one telling the one whose telling the dealer what to do, and a few years after that I’ll be the one telling everyone what to do.”