Casino night returns to with big prizes

Casino night returns to with big prizes

By Jazmin Farraj

Contributing Writer

The Old Ranch was filled to capacity with students, music and the sound of prizes. 

The Student Union Board produced Casino Night on Sept. 9.  DJ’d by TjohnE Productions, who brought a huge projector screen that held music videos, providing a moving backdrop for the mostly dark casino area.

SUB leader Grace Hernandez told the Contraband that the point of the night was to help student learn to manage their finances.

“Another thing was to make connections and to get interactive with students on campus,” Hernandez said.

Leaders learned this event through APCA (Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities) where S.U.B. leaders are brought to explore several educational yet fun events for students. This particular event is brought every two years to McNeese State University’s campus.

Green and orange lights shone from the 12 gaming tables.  An oxygen bar, complete with hospital style breathing aids, allowed contestants to experience a euphoric blend of pure oxygen and Pina Colada, lime, watermelon and peach scents.

“Supposed to make you feel good,” said the oxygen bartender. Plugging both nostrils with a tube and inserting the other end into the bar, you could select any or all of the four flavors. The liquids would bubble as you inhaled the scents, giving a “feel good” sensation.

Throughout the night up to $300 door prizes were given but grand prizewinners received much more by the end of the night. Door prizes like $100 to the bookstore were handed out randomly, but diligent game players received their choice of sound bars, a mini fridge, and a brand-new printer.

A huge line stretched from two sections of Old Ranch where students awaited to either sign in or highlight their name off a sheet of reoccurring S.U.B. attendees. Once the student was done, they were given $4,000 in fake money to play at the table of their choice. Game tables had classic casino card games ranging from Texas Hold ‘Em and to a Louisiana bred game called Craps. Guests had their chips in hand and money kept close hoping to win around.