Yes, nights out are a whole lot of fun. But sometimes staying in is even more fun. So why not host a casino night and create a really magical evening for you and your guests?
Here are some tips and tricks to make hosting your very own casino night a little easier, even more fun and truly memorable.
Who’s coming?
The first thing you have to think about when you’re planning to host a casino night is your guest list. Who do you want to spend the evening with? Pick a group of fun friends and family who love a bit of glamor and a laugh. And, most importantly, people you feel comfortable around.
Then once you know who you’re inviting, your decisions about the evening will be a little easier to narrow down.
Pick your games
One of the major elements of casinos is the games. So when you want to host a casino night, think carefully about which games you want to play. Unless you’ve got a really big crowd coming, we’d suggest having just one or two games running at any given time. But which games?
We love poker, but it can be a little slow for an upbeat night. And if you’ve got guests who don’t know how to play it, it might take them a while to figure out the rules.
Instead, maybe opt for a simpler game. Blackjack and Baccarat are both really popular choices. They’re not hard to play, it’s easy to learn the rules and all you really need is some cards and maybe some chips.
Roulette is also a great choice — as well as baccarat, but the major issue with that is the wheel. Why not give it a spin if you can borrow one from a friend. Or if your heart is set on it, you can always buy your own wheel for yourself.
The dress code
If your friends love dressing up, feel free to suggest a fancy pants dress code. Suits and cocktail dresses could help make the evening feel even more special. But if you know your pals are definitely more casual than glitzy people, don’t force it!
Treat your guests to some tasty food
We don’t know about you, but food is one of our major focuses when we’re planning any sort of a party. When you host a casino night, that’s no different. First off, think about who your guests are, how much time you have to prep and how handy you are in the kitchen. If you’re no Martha Stewart, then you’ll want to keep things simple for yourself. And if your guests aren’t the world’s most adventurous eaters, you might want to skip the seafood platters.
But with all those caveats, here are some fun ideas for a little casino-style buffet:
- Mini hamburgers
- Vegetable skewers
- Mini quiches
- Chips
- Crackers
- Cheese and fruit board
- Homemade/store bought dips like hummus, salsa, olive tapenade, sour cream and chive
- Cupcakes
Make sure there’s enough plates for everyone and encourage them to make their own plates of food. Then they can graze as and when they want.
Don’t forget the drinks
People always associate entertaining with alcohol. By all means, feel free to serve a couple of cocktails or bottles of beer to your guests, but don’t forget to have plenty of non-alcoholic options too. Keep jugs of water, a few bottles of soda and coffee on hand so your guests can hydrate throughout the night. And if you want to make the non-alcoholic options extra special, why not mix up a mocktail?
Make your decor sparkle
If you look online, you’ll find lots of different options for buying some casino night decorations. Take a quick look through and see if anything jumps out, especially on sites that sell pre-owned decorations. But if it doesn’t, you can just as easily whip up a few DIY options yourself.
Invest in some red, black, gold and green card and paper and then create some fun casino-themed bunting. Or how about searching through your Christmas decorations and finding glitzy beads and baubles that go with your theme? A little ingenuity and you can make a big impact.
And remember that you can always ask your friends to lend you some decor too. If someone you know has hosted a similar themed party, why not pool your resources? But you might want to send them an invite too!
Turn it up
Create the perfect playlist when you host a casino night. Think about what springs to mind when you think of casinos and Vegas. We’re guessing the Sinatra comes to mind, right? Load up a playlist with a few classic crooners and then mix in some more modern stuff that you know your guests will vibe to. The trick is to keep it upbeat and fun, all night long.
Get ready to host a casino night by playing some games online
If you’re in the mood for a little bit of casino inspiration in advance of your own hosting, why not head to an online casino? There are lots to choose from, depending on where you’re based. As long as it’s available where you are, we’d recommend checking out a few games on bet365. Plus if you’re new to the site, you can use this bet365 bonus code for a fantastic welcome offer.
