Classic casino games, vintage outfits and sparkly decor welcomed students at Utah Tech University’s annual Casino Night.
Hosted by the Utah Tech Student Association, Feb. 25 from 7:30 – 11 p.m., attendees gathered at the Gardner Building to try their luck with classic casino games such as Blackjack and poker. Attendees were treated to live music, a mixed-soda bar and a photo booth.
Students were able to claim free tickets through their student portal, and all attendees were given a free ticket at the start of the event. These tickets were redeemable at any table for a handful of starter chips.
“They can play and earn more ‘money’ or lose all of it in a matter of minutes,” Karlee Myers, an assistant director of student engagement and leadership, said. “[Attendees] can cash their chips in at the end of the night for some tickets, and then we do a random drawing of the tickets to see who can win a prize.”
Prizes this year included Bruno Mars concert tickets, a MacBook, a Nintendo Switch and a year of free car washes, among others. However, these were not the only prizes up for grabs.
Students who kept up with the event online were able to attend a photo booth earlier in the week. By taking a photo at these booths, posting the photos and tagging UTSA’s Instagram, participants had a chance to win a hot air balloon ride.
The first 350 attendees who visited the Blackjack Bar also received themed shot glasses, which depicted the event’s card theme.
According to Myers, Casino Night is one of Utah Tech’s largest and most successful events.
“Super, super successful,” Myers said. “Really smooth with the ticketing system, the tables have been great… I think it’s been going really well.”
The tables included various casino games such as Blackjack, poker, and even a bingo hall.
“I would say bingo,” said Emma Lynn, a freshman general studies major from Palm Springs, California, when asked about her favorite part of the event. “I was the closest to winning.”
Lynn decided to go to the event after one of her friends expressed interest in attending. Despite typically being disinterested in large events, Lynn enjoyed Casino Night.
“I find it [the event] a lot of fun,” she said. “I’m not usually one for social events, but this is right up my alley. A couple of games, some people dressed up nice, you know?”
Natalie White, a senior design major from Yorktown, Virginia, also decided to attend Casino Night for the first time. Much like Lynn, White enjoyed the bingo hall best.
“I’ve never gone before [to Casino Night], like, the entire time I’ve been at school here,” White said. “The bingo has been pretty awesome.”
As the event came to a close and prizes were drawn, Myers offered this message to students and community members considering attending next year:
“[Casino Night’s] a really fun event. Come out and give it a chance,” Myers said. “People come out to have a great time. It’s really fun to dress up for a night and just come and play some games with everyone.”
