All careers › Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
Gambling and sports book writer or runner: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $22,090lowest 10% earn less
- $28,15025th percentile
- $34,980median
- $44,84075th percentile
- $48,270top 10% earn more
Gambling and sports book writers and runners had a median pay of $34,980 a year in May 2025, below the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations[3][4].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +1.8%[3]
- Openings per year
- 1,400[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[7]
How much do gambling runners make?
The official BLS category is Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners. In May 2025, the median wage was $34,980 a year, or $16.82 an hour[1]. The median splits workers into a higher-paid half and a lower-paid half[1][8]. The mean (average) was $36,450 a year, or $17.53 an hour[9].
The median for all occupations was $50,980[2]. So the typical pay for this job sits below the all-occupations figure.
The range is fairly narrow, as the table shows.
| Point in the range | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[5][10] | $22,090 | $10.62 |
| 25th percentile[5][10] | $28,150 | $13.54 |
| Median[1] | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| 75th percentile[5][10] | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| 90th percentile[5][10] | $48,270 | $23.21 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $22,090 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $48,270[5]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].
These figures cover wage and salary workers, both part-time and full-time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11].
Pay by state and city
Among the 30 states with published data, New York had the highest median at $54,740[12]. New Jersey followed at $48,260 and Massachusetts at $47,720[12]. West Virginia had the lowest at $19,740[12]. New York had only 100 jobs, though[12].
Jobs are concentrated in a few places. California had 1,480, Nevada 1,440 and Montana 1,050[13]. The median in Nevada was $37,500[12] and in California $44,860[12]. In Montana it was $22,030[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH had the highest median at $47,720[14]. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV came second at $38,390[14]. Las Vegas had the most jobs of any metro area, at 1,190[15].
Show median pay in 30 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New York[12] | $54,740 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $48,260 | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $47,720 | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $47,250 | 80 |
| California | $44,860 | 1,480 |
| Washington | $42,180 | 220 |
| Ohio | $38,460 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $37,910 | 60 |
| Michigan | $37,720 | n/a |
| Nevada | $37,500 | 1,440 |
| Iowa | $37,440 | 100 |
| Arizona | $35,640 | 260 |
| Minnesota | $35,370 | 350 |
| Maryland | $35,230 | n/a |
| Illinois | $34,610 | 130 |
| Colorado | $34,450 | n/a |
| Connecticut | $34,420 | 70 |
| Florida | $34,160 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $33,650 | 130 |
| Indiana | $32,730 | 90 |
| Kansas | $31,550 | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,690 | 90 |
| Texas | $30,660 | 440 |
| North Dakota | $30,640 | 110 |
| South Dakota | $30,620 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $29,670 | 360 |
| Mississippi | $28,340 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $26,620 | 180 |
| Montana | $22,030 | 1,050 |
| West Virginia | $19,740 | 180 |
How to become a gambling runner
The path is short. The facts below come partly from a BLS handbook profile that covers a wider group of gambling occupations, not only this one[16].
- First: have a high school diploma or equivalent. That is the typical education for entry, and no work experience in a related occupation is needed[7].
- Next: get on-the-job training. BLS lists short-term on-the-job training[7]. The handbook says these workers are typically trained in less than 1 month[17].
- Then: get licensed. A state agency, such as a casino control board or gambling commission, must license gambling services workers[18].
Candidates for a license must give photo identification and pay a fee. Candidates also usually face a thorough background check and a drug test[18]. Age requirements vary by state[19]. Check your state's gambling commission website for the specific rules[19].
Gambling school is mainly for dealers. Writers and runners usually can skip it[17]. The employer teaches state and local rules and the details of the job[17].
In an O*NET survey of 33 workers, 87% said a high school diploma or equivalent was the education required, and 7% said some college courses[20].
What gambling runners do
Workers post information so patrons can bet on races and sporting events, and they help run games such as keno and bingo[21]. Sample job titles include casino runner, floor runner, keno runner and bingo caller[22]. O*NET lists these tasks:
- Answer patrons' questions about game rules and casino policies[23].
- Take cards or tickets from players[23].
- Work out and check amounts won or lost, then pay out or send patrons to a cashier[23].
- Pay off or move bets under the game rules[23].
- Start equipment that picks numbered balls at random and announce the winning numbers[23].
- Check that every player has bet before play begins[23].
- Record how many tickets were cashed and how much was paid out after each race or event[23].
Where they work
The handbook profile for gambling services workers says casino hotels were the largest employer group in 2025, at 34%[24]. Because that profile covers a wider group, the figure may not match this job alone[16].
Casinos are usually open around the clock, every day of the week[25]. Employees are often scheduled for nights, weekends and holidays, which tend to be the busiest times[25]. Most gambling services workers work full time, and part-time work is common[25].
The floor can be noisy from slot machines, tables and loud customers[26]. Casinos in some states allow indoor smoking, which can expose workers to secondhand smoke[27].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment growth of 1.8% between 2025 and 2035, with jobs rising from about 9,600 to 9,800[3]. That is a gain of about 200 jobs, and the counts include self-employed workers[3]. Employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[4].
BLS projects about 1,400 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when workers retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 5.6% of workers leave the labor force and 8.7% move to a different occupation[28].
BLS names online betting as a factor. As online betting options grow, bettors can skip trips to physical locations, which lowers demand for this work[29].
Is it a good fit?
The facts suggest an easy entry. The job asks for a high school diploma, no related experience and short on-the-job training[7]. The pay is below the all-occupations median, with a middle half of workers earning between $28,150 and $44,840[1][5][2]. Growth is slower than for all occupations, and online betting is a pressure on demand[3][4][29]. Plan for a state license with a background check and drug test[18]. Casino shifts can include nights, weekends and holidays[25].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a gambling runner make an hour?
- The median wage for gambling and sports book writers and runners was $16.82 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $17.53[1][9].
- What education do you need to be a casino runner?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry, with no related work experience[7].
- How long does it take to become a gambling runner?
- The handbook profile says these workers are typically trained in less than 1 month[17]. The profile covers a wider group of occupations[16].
- Is gambling runner a growing job?
- BLS projects 1.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][4].
- What is the highest paying state for gambling runners?
- New York had the highest state median at $54,740, with 100 jobs[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners in the US was $34,980 per year and $16.82 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners is projected to grow 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,600 to 9,800 jobs (a change of +200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners: 10th percentile $22,090, 25th percentile $28,150, 75th percentile $44,840, 90th percentile $48,270. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,400 openings for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners was $36,450 per year and $17.53 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners: 10th percentile $10.62, 25th percentile $13.54, 75th percentile $21.56, 90th percentile $23.21. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners jobs: California 1,480; Nevada 1,440; Montana 1,050; Texas 440; Nebraska 360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners (areas with at least 100 jobs): Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $47,720; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $38,390; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $37,000; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $36,360; Reno, NV $33,780; Omaha, NE-IA $30,610; Missoula, MT $22,580. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners jobs: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 1,190 (median $38,390); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 240 (median $36,360); Omaha, NE-IA 190 (median $30,610); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 190 (median $37,000); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 140 (median $47,720); Missoula, MT 120 (median $22,580). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Gambling Services Workers" covers Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 39-3012.00 survey of workers (33 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 87%, Some College Courses 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 39-3012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bingo Caller, Casino Attendant, Casino Floor Runner, Casino Runner, Floor Runner, Gaming Floor Attendant, Keno Attendant, Keno Runner. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of gambling services workers in 2025: Casino hotels 34%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners: 5.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 8.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners: Demand change - share decreases as the number of online betting options increase allowing betters to forgo travel to physical locations. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.