Become a Certified Poker Dealer in Cork.
Ireland's first dedicated poker dealing academy.
Earn flexible income, master live cardroom skills, and open doors to industry careers. No previous experience needed.
In official collaboration with
An official collaboration between Leeside Dealer Academy and Macau Sporting Club, one of Ireland's premier cardrooms, where your training takes place.
Leeside Dealer Academy operates independently. We collaborate with selected venues to deliver high-quality training.
The craft
What this is
Real training, not theory.
Leeside Dealer Academy is a structured training programme that takes complete beginners or inexperienced dealers and develops them into competent, professional-standard poker dealers.
This is not a theoretical course. It is real training in real gameplay environments: tournaments, cash games, and live poker settings.
You are trained, assessed, and developed on performance, accuracy, speed, and table control.
Who is this for?
Built for beginners and enthusiasts
No experience required.Complete beginners, poker fans who want to run the game, and career changers all train the same way: hands-on, two evenings a week, over 10 weeks.
More About the CourseFoundation Poker Dealer Course
What you will learn
Full training in professional Texas Hold'em dealing, from zero to table-ready: card and chip handling, running full hands, cash game and tournament procedures, pots and side pots, and professional table conduct.
See the Full CurriculumLimited First Intake
Only 10 spots available for the September intake.
Applications close 24 August.
Small groups mean more table time, closer correction, and faster progress for everyone in the room. Once the 10 spots are filled, applications move to the waiting list for the next intake.
Training runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7pm to 9.30pm.
Payment structure
Pay week by week
No lump sum. A deposit holds your seat, then you pay as you train. Certification is still earned by meeting the standard, not bought.
€150 deposit
A €150 deposit secures your place on the course.
€70 a week
Paid on attendance, week by week. That's €70 for five hours of hands-on training at the table.
Total: €850 over 10 weeks
Our guarantee
The Leeside Competency Guarantee
We don't hand out certificates for just showing up. Our graduates earn them. Your course includes 10 weeks of core instruction, but our commitment doesn't end there. If you don't pass your final table audition at week 10, you can attend ongoing practice table sessions at no extra cost until your skills meet industry standards.
After your final audition
Graduate & Get Connected
Once you hit our graduation standard and pass your final audition, we'll introduce you directly to Ireland's top cardrooms and festival organisers for freelance dealing opportunities. From there, your skills on the floor open the doors.
What Comes After the Course
Where you'll train
Inside Macau
Sporting Club.
Training takes place inside Macau Sporting Club, one of Ireland's premier cardrooms, in the heart of Cork city. You learn on real tables, in a real venue. This is where your dealing career starts.
More About the VenueApply
Apply for the First Intake
This is a paid professional training programme. Only 10 spots are available for the September intake. Applications close 24 August.
How it works
- 1. Apply below. Applying is free, with no commitment.
- 2. Our founder will be in touch on WhatsApp to make sure it's the right fit.
- 3. If accepted, a €150 deposit secures your place in the cohort.
- 4. Then it's €70 a week, paid on attendance across the 10 weeks. No lump sum.
Full course: €850 over 10 weeks
Questions first? Chat with us on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp 087 112 0770About the Founder
Our Founder
"Poker is more than a game. It's a community, and within that community lies a world of opportunity."
Our Founder
Poker professional · 13 years in the industry
Over 13 years across cardroom dealing, tournament operations, freelance events and live poker, on floors and tournament circuits across Ireland and Europe.
Meet Our FounderLisa
Leeside Dealer Academy
Lisa is an AI assistant. By sharing your details you agree to our .