Students of the Northern Vermont University – Johnson student body, may I have your attention. The NVU – Johnson Student Government is gearing up to host our 43rd annual Casino Night on Friday, March 20. If you haven’t heard of Casino Night yet, stop living under a rock! This is undoubtedly the most talked about, anticipated and fun event of the year. Your student government goes all out year after year to create a lively themed casino in the cafeteria for your enjoyment.

Do you like prizes? Yeah, me too, who doesn’t? Do you like to gamble? Of course! We have games for all levels from competitive poker, everyone’s favorite blackjack, and a money wheel. Haven’t played one of our games before? The dealers will be glad to teach you. Save the date. You will not want to miss this.
We will kick things off with the Casino Night Reveal Party on Thursday, Feb. 13 in the Stearns Dining hall from 9-11 p.m. during Late Night. At this event we will be revealing this years’ Casino Night theme, playing casino card games and, if necessary, teaching people how to play so they feel prepared for the real deal. Also at the reveal party, the SGA will be providing multiple opportunities to raffle away Casino Night tickets! A chance to win free entry into an event where I can gamble with fake money for a chance to win hundreds of dollars’ worth of prizes at the end of the night? All for attending the Casino Night Reveal Party? Count me in!

After the Reveal Party be sure to spread the word and tell all your friends to get their Casino Night tickets as soon as possible! The ticket fee for Casino Night is $8 for students, $10 for staff and faculty, and $15 for the public. With the ticket, on the night of the event, you will receive fake money that will be traded in for chips to use for gambling at the surrounding tables. You have a chance to win endless amounts of chips and, at the end of the night, trade them back in for fake cash to use at our prize auction.

Also at Casino Night there will be theme-relevant music, a photo booth, and a 21-and-up room with alcoholic beverages and high roller tables.

Don’t forget about the food, oh the sweet, sweet food. We have once again partnered with Sodexo to provide our special night with delicious finger foods, snacks and amazing desserts. It will be an internal struggle to decide whether to play games and rack up your chips or just hang out by the food tables. Just be sure to keep your eyes on the prizes. Additionally, the first 110 people who walk through the door will receive a limited edition, high quality, Casino Night themed glass to keep forever.

Now I know what you’re asking yourself. Casino Night is so much fun and so well attended, and all those sweet prizes were all donated, so where is all this money the SGA raises from ticket sales going? We’re glad you asked. We are proud to say that all proceeds from this annual event go to the United Way of Lamoille County. It is our way of giving back to a community that does so much for us as a school and a student body.

So save the dates. Come on out to the Casino Night Reveal Party on Thursday, February 13 and then the real deal on Friday, March 20. The winter blues are in full effect, so get up out of your room and come spend a fun evening with us and win some prizes. This could be the greatest $8 you have ever spent, don’t miss out. We can’t wait to see you there!