How to Host a Casino Themed Party

Games

Games are of course central to a casino and they will be a core component of your casino party. There are plenty of games to choose from, but you should make sure that you choose those that are appealing to the crowd you are inviting.

Many people will not have the time or the inclination to learn complicated rules for games that they have never played before, especially in a party setting. Therefore, it is probably best to stick to casino classics with simple rules, such as blackjack and roulette, rather than more complicated games such as craps.

Another great advantage of these games is that they won’t cost you much money at all. For blackjack, all you really need are decks of cards, but you can easily pick up a blackjack table cover cheaply. Similarly, you will need a roulette wheel, but today you can pick them up for hardly anything.

Another option is poker. There are many forms of the game but most people know how to play draw poker or Texas Hold’em. You should consider printing out sheets showing the different types of hands and their rankings. This will help newcomers get to grips with the game and ensure things run smoothly.

If you really want to add a touch of class, you could hire a couple of dealers and croupiers. They can run the games for you and will be on hand to help anyone who is struggling with the rules.

Remember, you will also have to pick up some casino chips. Again, these are no longer very expensive. We recommend that you do not use too many different colours; otherwise, it can become quite confusing. Furthermore, if your guests are drinking, they may not want to worry about many different chip values.

In some places, it is even possible to hire slot machines, but you may not want to include them at a party as they are fairly solitary games. Ultimately, you have plenty of choices when it comes to games and with just a little effort, you can provide your guests with an authentic casino experience.

Décor

You can’t throw a casino themed party without some decorations. They can range from the very basic to the highly detailed, depending on your budget. A nice touch is to set up a mini red carpet at the entrance. You simply need a small piece of red carpet, some velvet rope, and possibly a few fake trees to go on either side of the carpet. It will make your guests feel like true VIPs when they arrive and set the atmosphere for the night.

If you are wondering how to decorate your rooms, then you may want to think about making some giant casino-themed decorations. For instance, you could create giant dice; they are easy to make and will look great. You can pick up all the supplies you need at almost any craft store. All you really need are some Styrofoam cubes, glue, black paint and card. You can then easily make some black dice with white spots and white dice with black spots. If you are feeling really creative, you could even try to make some giant casino chips.

Another popular decoration is money bunting. You could use Monopoly money and just thread some string through it using a thick needle. Then you can string it up around the party, adding to the casino atmosphere. Some people have also been known to decorate their doors as playing cards by cutting out heart shapes from red cards and sticking them on the doors.

There is much more that you can do, your imagination is the only limit and it can be a lot of fun coming up with different ideas.

Food and Drink

A great thing about casino themed parties is that you do not have to go to a huge amount of effort with food. The guests will be busy playing games, so there won’t be a sit down meal. You will want to serve finger foods that are not greasy, so that the cards and chips do not become dirty. A nice idea is to serve red, white and black foods, in keeping with the casino theme. For instance, black olive and tomato tarts, cream cheese with red pepper, chili with black beans, red velvet cake, strawberries, or red and black M&Ms.

When it comes to drinks, if you have the time then you can look up a recipe online for Dice Jello Shots. It is a perfect dessert and cocktail combination, and they look fantastic. You may also want to consider making some casino themed cocktails such as Snake Eyes (apple martini), Jackpot (margarita), High Roller (whipped vodka with cranberry juice), Face Card (Malibu and pineapple juice), Double Down (vodka and cranberry), and Wild Card (kamikaze shots).

Dress Code

A dress code is not compulsory, but it can help to set the tone of an event. If you want a casual event then you may not need one, or you could suggest jeans and t-shirts. However, if you want to recreate a high class casino atmosphere in your home then you could suggest suits and ties, evening dresses, sparkly jewellery, and so on.

Further Considerations

When running a casino-themed party, you should be aware that holding a commercial casino night without a license is most likely to be illegal, regardless of where you are. Therefore, you have to ensure that your guests are not playing for real money. One way to do this is to provide everyone with chips and then award a prize to the person with the biggest chip stack at the end of the night. It is always worth checking your local gambling regulations before running a casino party, just to be on the safe side of things. Remember, it is completely legal to run casino themed parties with games, as long as people aren’t gambling with real money.

The suggestions above are just that, suggestions. How many you adopt will largely depend on your budget. However, it really is possible to throw a fantastic casino themed event with minimal expense. Just purchasing a few green tablecloths to throw over your tables is enough to create an appropriate atmosphere. Chips and cards can usually be picked up for almost nothing, and homemade decorations can also be very cheap.

If your guests are enthusiastic about the theme, then you could also ask them to contribute. If everyone brings a decoration, then you can transform the space in no time at all. We are confident that with the above tips, you will be able to throw a party that your friends will remember for the rest of their lives.