Sometimes every party feels the same. Solo cups, yelling over loud music, and maybe dancing if people really get into it. So, we get it if you’re craving a more interesting, unique night out with your friends.

Imagine a night when you could dress to the nines, play thrilling games, and feel like you’re truly escaping into a whole new atmosphere. This is what a casino night party can give you. So, we’re going to help you figure out how to host a casino event that’ll provide an original party experience.

What’s a casino night party?

Casino parties are events where guests can experience the thrill of gambling in an actual casino without physically being in a casino. Thus, the “casino” is brought to you to offer the ultimate Vegas night. However, unlike Vegas, these parties don’t come with the anxiety-provoking risk of losing a month’s rent.

How does it work?

If you host or go to one of these events, you’ll receive a predetermined amount of chips upon your arrival that you can use to play games. Depending on what the house rules are for the party, you can either keep playing games until you run out of chips or until the host officially ends the night.

As closing time approaches, all of the guests who participated in the casino games will have their scores added up. Then, prizes will typically be given out to a few who held top scores. But, sometimes, these parties might award prizes by doing a raffle instead of tallying up game scores.

Since you’re the party host, you get to choose what the prizes are. These events are all about having fun and letting loose for the night, so prizes don’t have to be anything crazy. If you’re working off of your own budget, you could award a bottle of wine or a coffee thermos! However, if you have co-hosts or friends chip in for a prize budget– or if you have sponsors at your event, you could offer more expensive prizes like a TV or a weekend getaway.

When should you throw one of these parties?

You can host a Vegas-like event whenever you please! Although, in most cases, these events are thrown for specific occasions such as bachelor/bachelorette parties, retirement parties, various themed conventions, or block parties.

It’s also a great idea if you want a casino night birthday party but don’t want to spend money on a flight and hotel in Las Vegas. Another idea is to throw a casino night fundraiser, as these types of events are great at raising money for charitable causes.

Top casino night party ideas

Once you’ve checked out casino night party rentals and have locked down a venue, you can start brainstorming party ideas. While a general casino theme is still fun, why not get more creative and incorporate a specific theme? Here are a few of our favorite ideas.

What happens in Vegas…

… can happen at your casino event! If you want to commit to true Vegas fashion, you need more than just games for your guests to play. Hiring live entertainment is a great idea for this theme. Consider getting burlesque dancers, a magician, or an Elvis impersonator to perform for your guests.

Let’s be rebels tonight

Host a casino night theme party that makes your party goers feel like they’re in a speakeasy, rebelling against prohibition! Think flappers, dancing, and games that bring thrill and joy. You can even encourage everyone to dress up with a nod to the roaring twenties.

The name’s Bond

You can’t go wrong with a classic, Bond-themed party. Create a playlist of songs from the James Bond movies and make your guests feel like they’re in Casino Royale— but without a megalomaniac villain!

Take me back to the talkies

Oo, Old Hollywood, the ultimate VIP experience. Lay down a red carpet accompanied by long, red velvet ropes. Hire a photographer as the “paparazzi” to give your guests a night where they feel like A-list celebrities.

Whatever theme you end up going with for your special night, don’t be afraid to go all out with your casino night party decorations to match your theme! You can’t go overboard with this kind of event.

What to wear to a casino night party

This is where it gets exciting. Who doesn’t love dressing up? While your casino night attire may adapt to align with the party theme, we’ll give you a few general ideas that work for any kind of casino event.

For the ladies

Girls, this is the perfect time to whip out your little black dress that’s been hanging in the back of your closet for months. Add some gold or silver jewelry with pops of color.

Want to really get glamorous? Wear a long, scarlet red or royal blue gown as your casino night dress, and put on some dark, smokey makeup.

For the fellas

Alright, guys, this isn’t playing online poker with your gym buddies— you’ve got to dress to the nines! A great casino night outfit is a classic black tie accompanied by a three-piece suit. These are super trendy right now, so they’ll be easy to find. If you want to go all out, spice things up with a big, shiny watch, or walk with a distinguished cane!

Why your casino night party needs games

Setting up a few tables for card games isn’t enough for a casino event. You might as well just invite the neighbors over to play hearts if that’s the case. Instead, consider renting gaming equipment like slot machines and roulette tables.

Let’s go over some of the best casino night games to give you a few ideas.

Tabletop slot machines

Nothing screams “Vegas!” louder than a slot machine. If your budget doesn’t have room for full-sized machines, tabletop slot machines make a terrific alternative. These will allow your guests to escape and feel like they’re in an actual casino.

Poker

Give your party goers the chance to practice their best poker face. Since poker isn’t the easiest game to play, it’s a good idea to print out guides on the hierarchy of hands. This way, beginner players will know if they have a winning hand or not. You can use regular playing cards or get a custom-made deck to match your theme.

Table games

Popular table games to have at your event are blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette. Just like with a poker table, you’ll want to have quick and easy guides for each game so beginners don’t feel like they can’t participate in the fun.

Real dealers are the real deal

We can’t stress this enough. Hire certified dealers who can run your games legitimately. As much as you might want to rely on your friend’s brother who’s “really good” at playing 21, you should make room in your budget for a professional event dealer.

Sometimes called “Croupiers”, these dealers have extensive knowledge of standard casino games. Thus, you can depend on them to properly manage games to ensure the night goes off without a hitch.

Ready to host a casino night party?

When you put a little bit of thought into it, a casino event is a magical night filled with fun, excitement, and maybe even a prize with a dash of luck. All you need to do is find the right party venue! So, fill up your cup with whiskey and adrenaline and get ready to host the party of the season your friends will be raving about.