Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS A CASINO PARTY?
The term “Casino Party” is used to describe an event, where people come together to play games commonly found in casinos in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but do not actually wager money or other items of value. A casino party may be held as a fundraising activity for a non-profit organization, or it may be a private celebration held by an individual, group or company.

WHAT IS THE FLOW OF A PRIVATE OR CORPORATE EVENT? 
(Note this does not apply to fundraisers – see fundraisers by state under top main menu)

While each Philly Casino event is fully customized to your specific needs, we offer the following recommendations as a guide in planning the flow of your event.

INITIAL CHIP ALLOTMENTS

WITH REGISTRATION TABLE – Guests upon arrival check in at your registration table and are presented with a table pass or voucher (which we supply to you at no charge). Vouchers, have a fixed denomination or value, and are then used to exchange for chips at any of the gaming tables.  If you are using custom printed money, this is where each guest would receive their custom bills in lieu of a voucher.  Guests then take the voucher to any of the casino tables they wish to start with and receive their actual chips for play.

WITHOUT REGISTRATION TABLE –  guests can simply go to their first gaming table and receive an allotment of chips to play with.

HOW MUCH TO START WITH – We generally recommend that guests start with $200 in chips,  but this can be set for any amount that you prefer, but please let us know so we can bring a sufficient supply in the correct denominations.

CHIPS ALWAYS STAY AT THE TABLES – Chips will always remain at the table. No need for your guests to walk around with stack of chips during your event. When they move from table to table or even take a break to eat/drink/socialize, the dealer will provide them with a voucher for the amount of chips thay are currently holding. They simply present the new voucher at the next gaming table upon resuming play to get their current chip allotment. 

CHIP DENOMINATIONS & MINIMUM BETS
Chips for all our tables (except roulette) come in three basic denominations:
Red = $5
Green = $25
Black = $100
We can also offer – Red w. White Stripe = $500, and Blue w. White Stripe = $1000
The one exception to chip colors is roulette in order to identify the different players. 

We generally recommend a Minimum Bet on all tables of  $5  and a Maximum Bet of $200. Again, these are just suggestions and you can vary the amounts. 

WHAT IF GUESTS RUN OUT OF CHIPS?
Some players will run out of chips before the evening is finished. For private and corporate functions, we generally recommend that they simply be given another allotment of $200 in chips (table voucher) or whatever amount you so choose. The evening is for fun, even if prizes are being given out, and it is always better to have everyone playing and enjoying themselves.

CASHING OUT AT END OF THE EVENING
We have two basic methods for finishing up the evening that we recommend. In all cases, our dealers handle all the accounting for you.
(Please note, awarding of prizes may be subject to state laws.)

Method 1 – Raffle Tickets – preferred method and ideal for larger groups
This is the preferred method. At the end of the evening, guests cash out their chips for a two part raffle ticket (we supply at no charge). So for example, for every $100 in chips you get a raffle ticket. The more chips, the more tickets and the better your odds of winning a prize. You can of course set the cash out amount to anything you like. As to prize distribution, you can call out the winning numbers at the end of the evening per prize; OR you can also display the prizes with a raffle basket in front of each prize. Guests then place one half of the two part ticket in a basket to the corresponding prize they prefer to have a chance to win.

Method 2 – Top Winners – ONLY FOR GROUPS UNDER 20 GUESTS  – must be discussed and approved by us before implementing.
Based on the number of prizes you choose to have, we can count up everyone’s chips at the end of the evening and tell you who the top winners are in order of chip amounts. Prizes are then given to first place, second place, etc.  Please note exact accounting can be cumbersome and time consuming. It can also impede play over 4 hours if a guest runs out of chips. Please consult with us before selecting this method. We ONLY recommend using this with smaller groups under 20 players.

WHAT IF SOMEONE HAS NEVER PLAYED BEFORE?
All of our dealers are more than happy to teach the games to novices or give pointers to those more experienced. In all cases, our dealers will have everyone playing all the games and having fun.

HOW ARE YOUR DEALERS TRAINED?
All of our dealers have been professionally trained. Most of them also have worked professional casinos in Atlantic City as well as Las Vegas. Our dealers have had years of experience in working private and corporate events. They are also handpicked to be sure they are “people friendly,” insuring that everyone has a great time!

WHAT IS A PIT BOSS AND DO WE NEED ONE FOR OUR PARTY?
The term “Pit Boss” originated in the 1920s when casinos were frequented by shills and gangsters. Today, it refers to a supervisor and event coordinator. For fundraisers, having a Pit Boss is essential as they facilitate running specials and working directly with volunteers to optimize donations throughout the evening. The Pit Boss ensures smooth operations and maximizes fundraising efforts. For larger corporate and special occasion events, we also mandate the inclusion of a Pit Boss. They serve as a central point of contact, coordinating all dealers and staff to ensure the event runs seamlessly.

DO WE NEED TO TIP THE DEALERS?
We pay our dealers very well and significantly above the industry standard. Tipping our dealers is neither required nor expected. However, if you feel they have gone above and beyond, and you wish to tip them, it will be very much appreciated.

DO WE NEED TO FEED THE DEALERS?
Absolutely NOT! As a mater of company policy, we prefer that meals not be offered and there is no reason for caterers to be adding such charges to your bill. We are here to entertain your guests and our dealers know to eat before or after your event.  If our set up crew/dealers are there extra early, we take care of them before your event starts.

HOW ARE CASINO PARTIES LEGAL?
The most common question people ask when they hear about casino parties is, “Is this legal?” The answer is YES. While each state in which we operate has varying regulations for private and corporate functions, as a rule of thumb it is legal as long as you do not play with cash or for cash prizes. What makes it legal is that in spite of the appearance of a casino, there is no actual gambling going on, it is purely for entertainment purposes.

BUT WHAT ABOUT USING REAL MONEY WITH FUNDRAISERS?
Each state in which we operate (PA, NJ & DE) has strict laws and regulations about playing with cash or for cash prizes or prizes of significant value. Not only do we have to hold a license to operate but you as a non-profit organization must also have a license from the state (NJ, DE). In Pennsylvania, playing with cash, purchasing chips or the awarding of prizes is actually prohibited. It is important to understand the law and the regulations in the state in which you plan on holding your fundraiser. We have outlined thes on our website under FUNDRAISERS in the main menu. PLEASE NOTE – our dealers and staff will NEVER handle cash at an event and no cash is permitted on any of the tables at any time!

WHAT AGE DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO PLAY? CAN MINORS PLAY?
Unlike regular casinos, guests can be any age to play, but parent discretion/supervision is encouraged with minors.

HOW LONG CAN MY GUESTS PLAY FOR?
We include up to 4 hours of playing time in our standard fee for equipment and dealers. We do not charge you for set up or take down time. Four hours of casino time is usually more than adequate, especially if your event has other activities. We will work with you to determine the best schedule for the casino portion of your event. Additional time is available but there is an overtime charge. For poker tournaments, there is no time limit. We play until the tournament has reached its conclusion with a winner.

HOW MANY GAMING TABLES WILL I NEED FOR MY EVENT?
The number of gaming tables needed will depend on the number of guests in attendance and whether the casino will be the exclusive entertainment for the evening. If you are having other forms of entertainment, it is safe to calculate that about 75% of your total guests will be playing at any given time. So if you have 100 guests, you will need to select enough games to accommodate 75 guests at any given time. Blackjack will accommodate 7 guests, Poker – 9 guests, Craps – 16  guests, Single Roulette – 7 guests and Double Roulette – 14 guests, Big Six Wheel – 10 guests, and Slot Machines – 3 guests.

WHY DO YOU HAVE A 2 TABLE MINIMUM ON ALL YOUR ORDERS?
We require a two-table minimum to ensure dealer safety by creating a more interactive and secure environment, and to maintain cost-effectiveness, as it optimizes the use of resources and enhances the overall experience for your guests. Exceptions are rare but can be discussed for unique situations.

WHEN DO YOU DELIVER, SET UP & BREAKDOWN?
We will work with you and the venue to determine the best time to set up. Depending on the number of tables you have ordered, we generally send a smaller crew to set up anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half ahead of time. The dealers then arrive 30 minutes prior to the opening of your casino games. We will confirm our arrival and delivery times with you the week of the event. We remove our equipment when your event is over.

DO YOU OFFER A LIVE LEADERBOARD?
We don’t provide a live leaderboard. This feature is better suited for online casino gaming apps rather than a live event. To maintain a leaderboard, the dealer would have to constantly input names and amounts into a computer or laptop, taking away from their ability to engage with your guests and creating a more disjointed experience at the tables. Instead, we prioritize fostering a lively and interactive atmosphere for your event.

CAN WE RENT YOUR EQUIPMENT WITHOUT YOUR DEALERS?
Sorry, we do not rent out our equipment without our staff. Unlike our competitors, who offer this service, we do not in order to maintain a high standard for the appearance of our equipment. Our staff always comes with our equipment.

CAN WE HIRE YOUR DEALERS BUT USE OUR OWN EQUIPMENT?
The best answer is maybe. It really depends on the specific conditions and requirements. However, in all cases, our dealers will NOT work on non-professional tables. It is best that you contact us directly to discuss your specific needs.

WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVE?
We are based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. We service the entire Philadelphia area (all five counties), and go as far north as Allentown and as far west as Harrisburg. We service all of New Jersey as well as Northern Delaware. Travel fees may apply for areas that are more than 65 miles from either of our offices. We also provide service in the Chicago area through a reciprocal agreement.