Leo Conklin has been playing cards most of his life. But he may have drawn one of his best hands ever Monday.

Only a couple of weeks after being furloughed from his longtime job, Mr. Conklin was one of the lucky ones to make the cut at the Sheraton at Station Square, earning a spot in the school set up to train dealers for the Rivers Casino.

"It's a great opportunity. I always wanted to get into it, and I never had a chance. It worked out perfectly," he said.

Mr. Conklin was one of more than 500 people to filter into a ballroom at the Sheraton Monday to participate in the first of two job fairs set up by the casino to interview people interested in becoming dealers.

The first day proved to be a success, with more than 100 people being tapped to attend the casino dealers school starting next month. While the school assignment is no guarantee that one will be hired, it certainly increases the odds.

Joe Barrett, director of gaming for Rush Street Gaming, a Rivers' affiliate, said some 450 to 500 people would be selected to attend the school and get a shot at one of the 350 dealer jobs expected to be available.

The pot of applicants not only will include those enrolled in the school, designed for those without card-dealing experience, but also another 200 or so with expertise who have applied to work at the Rivers.

"We're anticipating a very high success rate through dealers school," Mr. Barrett said.

Monday's fair attracted a wide range of candidates, from stay-at-home moms looking to get back into the work force, to an unemployed US Airways worker who once hit the lottery, to a hairdresser to the stars seeking to change careers.

Karen Lovell, 53, of Sheraden, has been in the entertainment business for the last 15 years, working as an independent hairdresser in movies like "Leatherheads" and the upcoming "She's Out of My League." But now she's looking to switch roles.

"I always wanted to be a dealer, but we never lived close enough to a casino. Now we have a few casinos close to us," she said.

She believes that she has what it takes to be a good dealer: an outgoing personality, energy, and she's a "people person." Her ace in the hole?

"I'm good at math," she said.

Ronald Wallace, 56, of Penn Hills, worked for US Airways for 23 years in the catering department and on the ramp before being laid off in 2008. He hasn't been able to find a job since then, adding casino work "just seems like something I'd like to be around."

"I have people skills. That's what I mainly bring to the table," he said as he waited to be interviewed.

Mr. Wallace said he would like to deal blackjack or poker at the casino. Although he describes himself as no gambler, he already has proven to be lucky -- turning a $2 Cash 5 ticket into a $195,000 jackpot four or five years ago, before being furloughed.

"It came at the right time," he said.

The first stop Monday for those who attended the fair was a first-floor ballroom, where each received a number and waited to be called to fill out an application and take a math test (Hint: You might want to be able to add to 21 at the least).

Two rounds of interviews followed, one general in nature, the other more technical. The lucky ones ended their day in Grand Station III, meaning they had won the right to attend the dealers school.

Mr. Conklin, 57, of East Pittsburgh, was one of those.

He decided to attend the job fair after being furloughed from a North Side glass company a couple of weeks ago. He had been with the firm almost three decades.

"It's just tough times," he said.

Mr. Conklin said he has the tools to be a good dealer, starting with his love for poker.

"I've played all over the place. I've dealt here and there. I know the games inside out. I love people," he said.

Another who made it was Lori Mason, 46, of Munhall, who gave up a career as a developmental therapist about nine years ago to be a stay-at-home mom to her son, Cole, 10. She also helped her husband, Donald, who owns a tree service business.

She attended the job fair after deciding it was time to get back into the work force. No developmental therapy job this time around, however.

"It's something I always dreamt about," she said. "I always wanted to work in a casino."

The casino expects to have table games by early July. There will be 86 to start, including 24 poker. Other games will include blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat.

Although dealers will be paid mainly on tips, earnings can reach $40,000 to $50,000 a year. The school itself will run four to 10 weeks, depending on the game, for four hours a day, five days a week. There will be nightly homework as well.

"You're not going to become a great dealer by only practicing at school," Mr. Barrett said.

Those who attend will not be paid, and there is no guarantee they will be hired just by getting into the school. To have a crack at a job, candidates must successfully complete an audition at the end of their training.

Still, for some, Monday's job fair could be the "first opportunity to make a life changing moment," as Cory Plummer, Rivers' vice president of gaming described it.

The casino will hold a second job fair today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., also at the Sheraton Station Square.

Meanwhile, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington County has selected 550 people to attend its table games school, which will start late this month. There are still about 50 openings available.

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