The sounds of cards shuffling and roulette wheels clattering filled the air in the Student Center Ballroom as Eastern Michigan University students and staff made plays in the hope of hitting a jackpot during the annual Kings Casino event. Even though the currency was fake, the prizes were real.
Hosted by Campus Life and the Kings of Color student organization, the Kings Casino was a social event described as a way for students to play casual casino games and engage with others.
Campus Life Activities Coordinator Juniper Bamrick said the purpose of the Kings Casino is to give back to EMU's community through engagement with people whom students don't normally get to meet.
“This year, we added faculty and staff, so they get to interact with them in a different way,” Bamrick said.
University staff who participated included Title IX Coordinator Sarah Olejniczak, Chief Diversity Officer Dwight Hamilton and several other faculty members who worked the tables where students played games of chance.
Each student who signed up for free entry received 500 mock dollars, which were used to obtain casino chips for a variety of games. Game choices included Blackjack, Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, wheel spins and Roulette.
Neriah Johnson, the Court of Queens President of Kings of Color, said the majority of students on campus have never gotten to experience casino games in person.
“A lot of people do find them interesting just because they were never put in that environment,” Johnson said. “But they have always wanted to know how to play them, so this is a great way to teach them these games as well.”
Bamrick said the mock money added a benefit. The student could learn to play without any real currency involved.
Additionally, any students who ran out of chips to play during the event could earn more by playing video games, such as Super Smash Brothers Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where the winner would receive 100 mock dollars.
Once the event ended, the chips earned through winning the casino games could be cashed in for prizes, including Kings of Color-sponsored hanging dice, water bottles, drawstring bags and even a raffle for a grand prize selection of board games.
Johnson said that she likes the way Campus Life holds events and handles things professionally, which was part of the reason that Kings of Color decided to have a collaboration with the University department.
“They are all about giving back to the student societies, so we feel like Campus Life resonates with the needs of the students,” Johnson said. “Just to be able to get out and do something and de-stress after a long day of classes, stuff like that.”
One of the students who attended the event, Kyle Thibeault, said he enjoyed his time at the event with his friends.
“It's a really good way to enjoy an amazing experience like Vegas and learn what gambling is like in a fun way," Thibeault said. "It’s a great way to relieve stress, too.”
Student Brendan Winters said the event reminds him of the time he used to watch the World Poker Tournament with his dad.
“I would play games online with him, and being able to come here and play these games for fun was really enjoyable, and I hope they expand on it even more," Winters said.
For more information on future Campus Life events, visit the Campus Life Calendar. To find out more about the Kings of Color student organization, visit the Kings of Color EagleSync page.
