By Jeffrey Trainor (The Cascade) – Email
UFV’s fourth annual Casino Royale night was held in the new Student Union Building (SUB) within two sections of the Great Hall. The event brought out UFV’s best-dressed, as many students grasped the opportunity to dust off their formal suits and dresses from the back of their closets to fully embrace the “dress to impress”dress code. The event was the result of the biology and chemistry student association teaming up with the physics student association, the kinesiology and physical education student association, the mental health awareness club, and the pre-med student alliance.
The night’s primary feature was the casino games. There were four blackjack tables, two Texas hold-’em poker tables, and a roulette table. Although the gambling didn’t use real money, each attendee was given a $2,000 “credit” to spend at the tables, and the rest was up to a combination of luck and skill (but mostly luck). A huge positive was that the dealers at all the tables were very accommodating to those who stepped up to the table. No matter how much knowledge they had about the blackjack, poker, or roulette, they were always polite and willing to help those who did not know the rules through the finer details of the games. Furthermore, many students who were playing at the tables were also very willing to help their tablemates through some difficult decisions, creating a very positive and supportive environment.
Aside from the tables, the night featured a plethora of prizes that could be won by using credits accumulated from success at the tables. The prizes ranged from a Marvel messenger bag to Breaking Bad mugs, and there truly was something for everyone. Besides prizes, the room had a small food station that served mini samosas, chicken wings, and an assortment of vegetables along with a fully functioning bar to drown the sorrows of those losing big on the tables. Lastly, there was a photo booth where you could forever document your night at the casino, or simply prove to your mother you actually wore that tie she bought for you last Christmas.
Though the room wasn’t packed at any point, there certainly was a buzz in the room, and those that were in attendance seemed to have a wonderful time learning the different casino games and gambling their fake currency away. Though it seemed in the end that the dealer did always win out, those in attendance got to experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows that only gambling can provide — without spending a nickel.
