The Student Activities Board set up a casino in the Formal Lounge last Friday for students to try their hand at a variety of games.
Courtesy | Erik Teder
Students practiced their poker faces at the Casino Night hosted by the Student Activities Board last Friday.
The event featured poker tables, roulette, blackjack, and Texas hold ’em.
“I actually thought it was a really nice mellow event,” junior and creative team member Phoebe VanHeyningen said. “We had some nice ‘Great Gatsby’ music playing and almost everyone showed up in formal attire, which was really fun. Sometimes you’d hear riotous applause in the room, but mostly it was just people playing and having fun. I think it was a really nice way to scratch the itch for something like gambling.”
VanHeyningen said the SAB team was partly inspired by the 2021 President’s Ball casino theme, which some seniors at the event remembered.
While some students came to learn how to play, others like sophomore Cara Soli already knew some of the rules.
“I only played poker because I know the game and I enjoy it, so it seemed like the best way to play poker without actually losing any real money,” Soli said. “I watched many rounds of roulette to enjoy the thrill of it without losing chips to pure chance.”
Students received $300 in fake money at the door and could play as long as their funds lasted.
“I decided to show up after my friend Nick Barrows invited me,” sophomore Nick Bass said. “I didn’t actually know that the event was going on that night but it ended up being really fun. My favorite game was definitely roulette. I stayed there for most of the time and ended up winning a decent amount — fake money of course. Shout out to Abby for being a great dealer.”
The event ended up being much more popular than the SAB team expected, to the point they had to call in extra help.
“We had students deal because we wanted to add another table because there were so many people there,” VanHeyningen said.
Soli said she was glad she attended.
“The decorations, the sparkling juice, and the casino tables really made the casino vibe feel real and authentic, whereas the formal attire created an atmosphere which helped to further the experience of a fancy casino night,” Soli said. “Overall it was wonderfully planned and put together.”
Students who enjoyed the inaugural event can fill out a survey in the Student Activities Office newsletter VanHeyningen said the more positive reviews received, the more likely the event will return in the 2024-2025 academic year.
