Casinos have been a source of entertainment for centuries, dating back to 1638, when the first one opened in Italy. Today, the industry attracts around 122 million visitors in the U.S. alone, according to AmericanGaming.org.
Bringing that same excitement to campus, Mercy College hosted Casino Night on January 24, turning the student lounge into a game-filled venue. The event, organized by Victoria Cosa, Associate Director of Campus Life, was designed to offer students a unique and engaging experience.
“We were looking for something big, something different,” Cosa said. And a casino night delivered exactly that though she made it clear, “No real money.”
The lounge was transformed with green felt tables, stacks of chips, and classic casino games like Blackjack, Joker, and roulette. Student workers took on the role of dealers, ensuring a smooth and competitive gaming experience.
In Blackjack, students tried to get a hand value of 21 or as close as possible without exceeding it, using a combination of numbered cards and face cards. In roulette, players placed bets on numbers, colors, or groups of numbers, then watched as the dealer spun the wheel to see where the ball landed. For Joker, players competed to form the best hand using a deck of cards with the goal of beating the dealer’s hand.
To make things more exciting, an Amazon shopping spree was offered as a prize for the top three players who collected the most chips by the end of the night. The incentive encouraged students to take their bets seriously at least as seriously as they could without real money involved. However, the winners were not disclosed at the time of publication.
Casinos have always been about more than just gambling; they create a social and high-energy environment, which was exactly what Casino Night brought to campus. For many, it was a much-needed break from academic stress. Amaya Morgan, one of the attendees, appreciated how different it felt from typical school events.
“It didn’t feel like a typical school event,” Morgan said.
The event also reinforced the importance of campus activities, especially on weekends.
“It really gives you something to do on campus, especially on a Friday,” Cosa added.
Gregory Miranda, another student, recognized the effort it took to organize the event.
“I don’t think this event was easy to put together, and they did a good job bringing it together,” Miranda said.
While he played a few rounds of blackjack casually, others were more competitive, aiming to collect as many chips as possible.
With its mix of games and prizes the casino night successfully captured the energy of a real casino without the risk.
For those interested in future events hosted by student life contact Victoria Costa at [email protected]
