Las Vegas has become a popular spot for students looking to take a break from academic life at UCLA and risk their tuition in an attempt to pay off their student debts.
But students who are not able to escape to Sin City for a weekend retreat can experience all the glitz and glamour of the desert ““ without the hangover and incidents that happened in Vegas but don’t seem to stay there ““ at the 19th Annual All-Hill Casino Night this Saturday in Covel Grand Horizon Ballroom from 8 p.m. to midnight.
The event, put on by the On Campus Housing Council, is free for residents of the Hill and $5 for guests.
Jamie Siu, a fourth-year business economics student who helped put on Casino Night last year, said the rewards should encourage a large turnout among residents.
“It’s fun, you go for free, and there is a great lottery system for raffle tickets with $3,000 worth of prizes,” Siu said.
For the lucky winner, the grand prize will be a trip for two to Las Vegas that includes airfare, a stay in the Paris Hotel and tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show “O.”
The event will also offer food, entertainment and all types of traditional casino games ranging from Texas Hold “˜em and blackjack to craps and roulette.
“It was really fun, the decorations were cool and people put a lot of work into it,” said Thach Nguyen, a second-year cognitive science student who attended Casino Night last year.
In an attempt to keep Casino Night new and exciting, this year’s theme will incorporate aspects from Moulin Rouge into the gambling atmosphere.
The night will feature performances by a cappella and dance groups from UCLA, as well as a special tournament of drag queen bingo.
“We expect anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 people to attend,” said Joan Khuu, a second-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, who is helping to coordinate everything.
Casino Night is the largest event put on by the On Campus Housing Council, which has allocated $18,000 to accommodate the expected turnout.
“You usually call the same people to hang out. There are few events on the Hill where everyone goes,” Nguyen said.
The event is almost entirely put on by volunteers who learn the rules and techniques of running games from professional casino employees.
People who are interested in volunteering should contact their resident assistants.