For Saturday night at MSU, the Student Events Team transformed the CSU Ballroom into Maverick Casino. 

With its return due to popular demand, Casino Night brought in opportunities for students to play popular casino games. Winning games earned each player tickets, with each ticket representing a chance to win a prize at the end of the night.. 

Special Events Chair Meron Fre was the coordinator for this year and last year’s Casino Night. 

“The reason why I wanted to go through with it again is because I heard they had a really good attendance, and people really liked it,” Fre said. “It’s winter; people want to stay in. So I just decided to go through with it, because if people like it, then why not?”

The night included an entire section of blackjack, poker, roulette, multiple rounds of Bingo and for the first time ever, sports booking where students betted on live sports games and teams. For those who didn’t desire to take part in betting or gambling, crafts were available along with a photobooth and snacks. 

“I had a lot of fun. My friend and I went, and not only did we enjoy hanging out together, we also bumped into other people we know and spent the night talking and having fun with them,” said MSU student Anika Rossow-Strasser. “It gave me the opportunity to play games like roulette and Bingo safely. There was no risk of losing real money, but the excitement and adrenaline was still there.

When it comes to college students on campus, most are old enough to legally gamble and participate in casino games and sports betting in Minnesota. Fre explains that by continuing to host a money-free casino night in a fun, healthful way, it can help prevent students from developing gambling addictions.

“We keep doing it because real money is not involved. It’s fake money; they get prizes instead. Especially students, we don’t want them to get into that gambling addiction side of it,” Fre said. “But we’re just trying to show people that it can be fun and money doesn’t have to be involved. Fun things can be involved. You can get an air fryer, and all those fun prizes, and just have that as a prize, and it doesn’t have to be addicting.”

Rossow-Strasser shares she had never played casino games before attending the event but enjoyed the experience of participating for the first time, playing Bingo and watching others play blackjack. 

“I was learning new things while I played. I was especially impressed and almost in awe while I watched the dealers. They switched cards and counted chips so quickly,” Rossow-Strasser said. “I enjoyed playing Bingo and got some laughs out of the caller’s jokes. My favorite game of the night was blackjack, which I didn’t even play. I loved watching the swiftness of the dealer and listening to the players say ‘Hit me’ or ‘Stand.’”

Further confirming Casino Night’s popularity, Rossow-Strasser encourages other students to attend Casino Night in the next upcoming years. 

“I know I’ll likely go to Casino Night again in the future, and I would recommend it to any and all students. It’s a great way to run into friends and classmates as well as meet new people. Besides, when else are you going to have the chance to gamble without losing money?”

For more information on upcoming events, visit mnsu.edu/StudentEventsTeam

Photo Caption: The Student Events Team hosted Maverick Casino Night Saturday night in the CSU Ballroom where students participated in popular casino games such as blackjack, Bingo, roulette, poker and sports booking. (Logan Schlosser/The Reporter)

Write to Anahi Zuniga at anahi.zuniga@mnsu.edu