The NIC Sentinel

Issue date: 12/7/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Marcus Como Scott Hopper-Webb, 21, orthodontist major, staffs the Wheel of Chance.

V egas came to NIC at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 for Casino Night in the SUB Basement. The annual two-hour event, sponsored by NIC OARS leaders, featured 10 gambling tables along with complimentary food and beverages.

Each student received an envelope containing $2,000 in paper money. After gambling for two hours, each student could use their winnings to purchase raffle tickets, $1,000 each, for prize drawings. Approximately 50 students entered.

A staff member constantly made the rounds, exchanging bills and replenishing gamblers, so no students had to quit early. Some gamblers managed to catch him multiple times, building up their cash reserves.

"I kept losing money, and the guy kept passing me $1,000 bills, said freshman, Amanda Bean, 18, general studies. "It was awesome!"

Two high-interest prizes, an IPod dock and Guitar Hero World Tour, were both won by Kati Taylor, education major, 18, of Phoenix, Ariz., who won enough to purchase 100 tickets.

"I spent most of my night at the money wheel," Taylor said.

Other prizes included a pre-paid gas card, a sleeping bag, a Crock-Pot, a photo frame and gift certificates for Best Buy and McDonalds.

Two popular tables of the night were the blackjack table and the money wheel.

Other tables included a Chuck-A-Luck table (similar to craps) and a High-Low Seven table, where bets were placed on whether the dice would roll above or below seven or on a set of select numbers.

An unexpected highlight was musician Adam Day from Annapolis, Md. He was originally scheduled to play earlier in the day but his flight was delayed due to an unexpected snowstorm. Sponsored by ASNIC Student Events, he pranced around on stage while playing guitar and singing in an upbeat style.

"Day was really good because he had a great voice and cooperated well, even though it wasn't his main event," said Cain Sanchez, OARS and Student Events leader.

"It's the first school function I've gone to, and I couldn't have had a better time," said education major Megan Foster, 22, of Spokane. "I plan to go next year, too."

"It was amazing and kind of difficult because I had to work for both OARS and student events," Sanchez said.

The tables, provided by Fun & Games Entertainment in Spokane, were run and overseen by company volunteers.

Financing for the casino portion came from the OARS fund, established to sponsor events that make new students feel welcome.

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