5 minute read
She started behind the tables at VIAGE, learned the trade from the ground up, and twelve years later founded Belgium's first croupier school. From employee to employer - that is the story of Katarina Pantic.
When Katarina joined VIAGE in 2013, she had one great dream: to become a full-time croupier at an international house where professionalism and the pleasure of play come together. Even during her art history studies, the fascination with the casino world had been gnawing at her. Once she turned 21, she headed to Las Vegas to pursue it. When VIAGE, shortly after opening, organised a rare internal croupier training programme, she was among those who signed up. She came to know all the classic casino games up close, and ultimately spent almost twelve years behind the tables at VIAGE. During that time, not only did her technical expertise grow - so did her conviction that this profession is about more than pushing chips and dealing cards. It is human work: rhythm, focus and team spirit.
It began with a passion
By her own account, this intensive six-week programme changed her entire life. Upon completing it, she stepped straight behind the tables of Belgium's largest casino. She would stand there for nearly twelve years. The sheer number of tables, the diverse clientele and the constant dynamic of play allowed her to develop both professionally and personally. She learned to deal with all kinds of characters, with pressure, with people. VIAGE enriched her personal life too. Not only did Katarina make lifelong friends there - she also met the father of her children.
VIAGE was never just a stepping stone for her. It was a home.
And it led to a school of her own
With more than a decade of experience behind the gaming tables, Katarina decided in 2023 to pass on her knowledge and passion. She founded KAPA Casino School - the only specialised croupier school in Belgium. In eight weeks, she teaches her students roulette, blackjack, punto banco and poker, all following the procedures of the various Belgian casinos. But also what you won't find in any manual: posture, pace, customer focus and working under pressure. That way, her graduates can be thrown in at the deep end from their very first day on the job.
"And once they're at the casino, it's above all the human contact that stays with them - whether with clients or with colleagues, the atmosphere is always excellent." - Katarina Pantic
No diploma is required to get started - just curiosity, a degree of dexterity and a good head for numbers. And perhaps a hint of fascination with a world most people only know from the movies.
KAPA remains deliberately small and close-knit. Katarina knows every student by name, follows their progress closely and supports them not only during but also after the course, guiding them towards their first contract. She stays reachable, steps in where needed and doesn't let go of her students until they've found their footing - whether in a casino or, if they decide they want something else, in a role where their newly acquired skills are an asset.
VIAGE as a professional springboard
The circle between VIAGE and Katarina is now complete: where she was once trained as a newcomer, the casino now welcomes her students for a four-week practical placement. The collaboration built itself naturally. After more than eleven years working there, Katarina had built a reputation and a relationship of trust. Moreover, KAPA Casino School is more than a training programme. It is a response to a concrete need: the casino sector needs qualified people, and Brussels needs employment. By opening its doors to these trainees, the casino is investing not only in its own workforce - it is investing in people, in pathways.
During the placement, students function as full members of the team, with the same responsibilities as employed croupiers - only with the reassurance that someone is still watching, correcting and encouraging. It is there that they experience the real nightlife of a large gaming floor for the first time: the contact with guests, the dynamic of a busy table and the collaboration with experienced colleagues. Because that client contact - the very core of the profession - is something you cannot simulate in a classroom.
The results speak for themselves. Around 90 percent of students go on to secure a croupier contract after completing the course. These people come from all corners of Belgium, drawn to an atypical world that offers them something few other sectors can: a real job, a real community, a real start. Because Katarina gives her students more than technique - she shares her passion.
The life lesson Katarina most wants to pass on to her students? "Go for it. Play all your cards. And if it doesn't work out - too bad, but at least you tried."
Discover everything about KAPA Casino School here.
