How to Throw a Casino Party

Casino parties wax and wane in popularity, but lately they’ve been getting pretty steady business. Entire businesses have sprung up to provide supplies to people who host casino games at home.

The first step to any successful home gathering is to check with the local district attorney’s office about the legalities involved in hosting a casino party. For example, some states have laws that forbid casino parties entirely, while others allow them provided they’re not open to the public and use “fun money” for wagering. To avoid embarrassment and possible arrest, always check on local gambling laws.

Once you get the go-ahead, start thinking about things like what games to play, where to get the equipment, what decorations you’ll use, the place for the party, and dress code. If renting equipment to make the evening more authentic, consider have a cover charge to help defray expenses (but be sure to let folks know on the invitations that’s what you’re doing). Set up a “bank” to receive cover charges, along with buy-ins for chips. Be sure to have enough change on hand for the anticipated number of participants.

Renting poker, roulette or craps tables often is the easiest and simplest way to host a casino party. Often the companies that rent equipment also offer dealers and servers for hire as well.

If you don’t want to spend money hiring dealers and servers for the evening, enlist family members of legal age and friends to serve as dealers, servers, cashier and security. Assign them specific duties, and have them dress in a common “uniform,” such as black slacks, white shirt and red bow tie.

Make up the refreshments in advance, and don’t hesitate to “cut off” any participant who drinks too much alcohol. Be sure to have enough tables and gaming equipment on hand, include several decks of cards, pairs of dice and a roulette wheel of some sort.

Set a starting time and an ending time for the party. If you don’t, avid gamblers will want to play all night to try to recoup their losses. Should someone show signs of loitering, have “security” escort him or her politely but firmly to a vehicle, or call the lingerers a cab if they’ve imbibed too much.