Mathew Taylor-Harrison: Europe's Top Casino Dealer Triumphs in 2025

_{Taylor has been on a rollercoaster ride since winning Europe’s Best Dealer Award. (Image: Alan Evans)}

Mathew Taylor-Harrison was named Europe’s best casino dealer in June 2025, outshining competitors from 23 countries to claim the European Dealer Championship title at Casino Bregenz in Austria. The win didn’t just bring home a trophy for London’s Hippodrome Casino, it spotlighted a career defined by service, skill, and an unwavering cool under pressure.

"Honestly, I didn't believe it. It was completely surreal," Taylor-Harrison told Casinos.com in a recent interview.

"I didn't go with any expectation to win. I thought maybe I had the ability, but I really didn't expect to. There was some great talent there."

Training for Europe’s Biggest Stage

In the run-up to the event, Taylor-Harrison shifted roles. Typically an inspector, he doesn't regularly deal games. That changed in the six weeks before the championship.

"My dealing skills were incredibly rusty," he said.

"For the six weeks prior, I was dealing purely roulette and blackjack every shift, day in, day out. I think that made a big difference to my chances of winning."

The European Dealer Championship isn’t just about technical precision. Competitors are judged on game control, hospitality, and professionalism.

"I really did just go up and just deal exactly as I would deal at the Hippodrome," he said. "I had to trust in my ability… and focus on my hospitality."

A Journey From Las Vegas to Leicester Square

Taylor-Harrison's entry into the casino world wasn’t premeditated. It started with a trip to Las Vegas during a break from hospitality work.

"I was between jobs. I'd had some operations and couldn’t do the kind of hours required for a restaurant," he explained. "I ended up going on holiday to Las Vegas... and I remember being there just thinking, wow, this place is amazing."

Upon returning to Manchester, he enrolled in a free dealer training school in Salford. That led to his first casino role in Liverpool.

"They just guaranteed a job at the end of it. I had to work five days in the training school and weekends in a call centre. The rest is history."

Taylor-Harrison moved from Liverpool to Manchester, and then to the Hippodrome, where he’s spent the past 10 years.

What Makes the Hippodrome Unique

The Hippodrome Casino, located in the heart of Leicester Square, provided the perfect training ground.

"The Hippodrome is unlike any other casino that I've ever really been in, even including Vegas," he said. 

"You get every walk of life… tourists, proper punters, people just out for a meal."

That diverse crowd shaped his philosophy on service.

"People don't necessarily come in to gamble. They come in to enjoy themselves… You have to give people a good experience… they'll return if they get good service."

Taylor-Harrison says he focuses on making guests smile, even if they walk away with lighter wallets.

"If I can make someone who has lost their money walk out having enjoyed their experience, then that is what gives me job satisfaction."

The Hidden Skill Set of a Top Dealer

Despite popular assumptions, there’s no single "trick" to being the best dealer.

"To be a really top-quality dealer, I think you just need to have the proper mindset," he said. "You have to have a really thick skin. You have to be able to read people really, really well."

He also debunks the myth that dealers become pros overnight.

"People don't realise that you can't walk into a casino and in two years be considered anything more than a trainee. It’s all experience."

Passing the Deck

Now an inspector, Taylor-Harrison says mentoring newer dealers is one of the most rewarding parts of his job.

"I love passing on my skills and seeing ways that someone's dealing and helping them to improve. I do that on a daily basis anyway."

He didn’t plan for the spotlight that came after the win, interviews, articles, and public attention.

"I really didn't expect to win... It's been a roller coaster, to be honest."

Advice for Aspiring Champions

Taylor-Harrison's message to aspiring competitors is clear.

"If you're thinking about entering dealer competitions, just do it. One of the competitors said, in any competition, you can either win or you can learn. And I love that so much."

He called the entire experience "great," highlighting the camaraderie among dealers, managers, and sponsors.

The Trophy, and What Comes Next

The large championship trophy will be housed at the Hippodrome Casino, where the public can see it. Taylor-Harrison was given a smaller version to keep.

"At first I was a little disappointed it doesn't come to me... but it wouldn't fit on my bookcase," he said.

 "The smaller trophy will be my pride and joy forever."

For now, he remains committed to the Hippodrome and is open to whatever comes next.

"I would like to see myself moving forward, but I really don't know in what capacity that's going to be yet."