When it comes to fundraising events, nothing beats a really exciting casino night! It’s fun, keeps your guests entertained, and the fundraising aspect is built right into the event.
Ready to plan a casino night James Bond himself would be eager to attend? Here’s what you need to do:
1. Find the Right Venue
This step is easy, as almost any venue can be quickly transformed into a casino worthy of the Vegas strip with the right rentals and decor. But here’s something you can’t take a gamble on: space! It’s important to make sure your event space has room for the anticipated number of guests.
You will want to have space for all of the casino games and enough room for guests to move around, socialize, and get from game to game while munching on those delicious hor d’oeuvres. Still, most standard event venues should have plenty of open space for setting up games and chairs as the foundation of your event.
2. Choose Your Casino Fundraiser Type
Not all casino fundraisers are created equal! You can structure your casino night in a variety of ways, from card games to blackjack tables to a hybrid event with an assortment of casino games. The fundraising itself can occur through ticket sales to the event that happens to include a voucher for chips to a casino night with simple prizes and no real cash wagers, or guests can buy and sell chips with real cash value, with proceeds going to the host organization or related charity.
3. Establish Your Budget and Fundraising Goal
Even fundraisers cost money upfront, so it’s important to figure out your budget right from the start. Your budget will need to cover:
- Venue rental
- Decorations
- Concessions or catering
- Casino game rentals
- And any other party rentals you may need to bring your casino to life
Once you have a budget, you can set your fundraising goals. Make sure your goals are realistic and also can cover your expenses so the event does more than just break even!
4. Pick Your Casino Games
You might already have a jump on picking your casino games and events if your theme is more specific, like a Bingo night. If you’re wanting to do a mixed bag, then now is the time to pick your poison! Here are some popular casino games to consider bringing to your fundraiser:
Make sure you have all the supplies you need for each game. These may include poker chips, cards, dice, and raffle drums. Not sure what you need? If you rent your casino games from us at Fun Services, all table rentals come with everything necessary for the game of choice—all that’s missing are the chairs, and we have those too for events in the Kansas City area!
5. Set Prices and Prizes
The ultimate goal of your casino night is to raise money for a charity or organization, and your guests will be well aware of that. Still, prizes can incentivize better attendance and make the night more exciting for donors. While guests aren’t expecting to win a big jackpot, they may hope to earn a little cash or a fun and quirky take-home prize.
Set your poker chip or event ticket prices based on both your fundraising goal and possible prizes. If the casino games are being played with real cash-value poker chips, keep in mind that there will be more fluctuation in how much money is raised by the end of the night versus set ticket prices where you can estimate based on the number of RSVPs.
6. Have a Dress Code
Want to really get your guests in the Casino Royale mood? Have a dress code! This can be a costume theme like Wild West or Roarin’ 20’s, or you can make it a classy and formal black tie affair. Include details for the dress code on your invitations so guests know how to deck themselves out for the big event.
7. Don’t Forget the Food!
Food and drinks are a must-have for any special event, but how you serve your food at a casino night matters. This isn’t the time for a sit-down formal dinner—that’s precious time your guests can be spending out on the casino floor! Instead, consider one of these two options:
- Set up a buffet table with small plates for guests to serve themselves throughout the night
- Hire servers to carry around trays of finger foods and cocktails to guests
You should also consider what kinds of beverages to serve at your fundraiser. While a little liquid courage may enhance participation, you’ll want to make sure to have safety protocols in place if you’re serving alcohol. You also will likely need a permit to serve alcohol at your event.
8. Hire Professional Dealers
Instead of asking volunteers to learn the ins and outs of dealing various casino games, hire professional casino dealers for your event! Not only will they know exactly how to teach and host the individual games, but our team of professional casino dealers will come dressed to impress and ready for a good time!
Don’t Gamble on the Details—Let Us Help!
One of our favorite event themes for local fundraisers is a fun casino night—that’s why we have a whole selection of casino rentals in our catalog to make your event the best it can be! Contact us to learn more and get a quote for your casino night fundraiser.
