Hosting a Casino Night Party---Need Suggestions

[akairo]

I am throwing a suprise party for DH (in November). He enjoys gambling, so I thought that a Casino Night would be fun. I am going to book a building to hold it in.

My question is should I have it catered, or get a few people together and do the cooking ourselves. (I don't want to spend alot of money since I don't work and can't hide too much from DH.) We could easily rent chafing dishes/plates and glasses. And if we served hors d'horves (sp?) and desserts it probably wouldn't be too exhausting.
Recipe ideas for hors d'horves?

Has anyone been to a casino party? I'm sure that I will have to hire some people to deal. What if I made it a poker (Texas Hold'em) party? You can handle more people per dealer. What about prizes? Prizes for the top 2 money winners? Send play instructions out with the invitations.

I also thought that a white elephant exchange might be fun. !!I could go throught my house and get together the nicest things that I would garage sale, and provide all the white elephant gifts!! (My mom did that one year, it was hysterical. Everyone was afraid to open the big gift which was a birdcage and a rather mean parakeet. )

Any suggestions that ya'll have would be greatly apprciated. Any suggestions for the ruse to get DH to the party. Anything.

Thanks,

Tamara

[sneezles]

We've only ever done these as fundraisers since the equipment rental can get expensive. Here's a link to a site that will give you an idea about the rental costs: Casino Night (http://www.gamblers-junkyard.com/party.html) but it might also give you some ideas how to do your party without spending so much...

[sneezles]

Here's another site:
Casino Night (http://casino7.netfirms.com/lasvegas2.html)

[kristalina_22]

A friend of ours threw a casino night as a surprise birthday party for her dh as well. She did it at her house, and had his friends take him golfing in order to get him out of the house so she could set up. This worked really well, so maybe enlist some of his friends to help get him to the location-they could say they're taking him out for a drink or something. She rented a blackjack table and a couple of slots, and neither used real money-this was nice because no one lost anything and everyone could play without worrying. There was really no need for more tables, as everyone not playing was happy to socialize, eat and drink. Caterers might be the way to go due to set up and clean up time that you may not have (or may not want to deal with) Good luck and have fun-this is a great party idea.

Kristi

[Peggy]

Tamara,

I'll deal Blackjack for you for free!!! I'm in your town and that is my gambling game. Always wanted to be a dealer!:) Are we talking NEXT November? If so, you really do plan ahead! When in November? If it's at the beginning I may not be available. But if it is around Thanksgiving, or after, I can probably give you a hand.

Peggy

[akairo]

Peggy - You're hired!!!

It is next November. I am thinking about this early in case I need to book a location. His b-day is the 28th, which is a Sunday. I haven't decided if I should do it on the day or not. I was thinking of renting the building at the shooting range on Placer. I don't think that it is too costly. My first thought was my house, but how do I explain all of the vehicles. This is a rural setting and it's hard to hide alot of vehicles. If I could solve that problem I would definitely have it here. Suggestions???

I was reading the taco/burrito bar thread and thought that that might be an easy and inexpensive food alternative. Shredded beef/chicken chips/salsa/guacamole, beer/margaritas (designated drivers, of course)

blackjack, poker, slot machine

A friend of mine belongs to a sorority that has some of the equipement. I may be able to borrow that. Since it is so close to the Holiday's, and DH doesn't much care for gifts (he says he has everything he needs, meaning me:D) I thought that the buy-in could be either a toy or $5-10 of food to be donated locally.

Keep the ideas coming. I have lots of work to do.

Tamara