Casino Night Party Ideas for Birthdays, Stag Dos and Hen Dos

A casino night is one of the easiest themed parties to get right. Everybody understands the idea, the dress code makes people feel glamorous, and the games keep guests mixing all evening. It works for a fortieth birthday, a stag or hen do, a retirement or a works Christmas party.

Pick a theme

• Monte Carlo: black tie, champagne, roulette and baccarat, candlelight and a jazz playlist.
• Las Vegas: neon, sequins, Elvis on the playlist, blackjack and craps, a "chapel" corner for photographs.
• Spy-film glamour: dinner jackets and evening dresses, martinis, and a mysterious stranger at the baccarat table.
• Roaring Twenties: a speakeasy with poker, cocktails in teacups and flapper dresses.

Hire a fun casino, or do it yourself

Fun-casino companies supply real-looking tables (roulette, blackjack, poker and sometimes craps), trained croupiers who teach beginners as they play, and play money or chips with no cash value. It is the easiest way to give a party the authentic feel, and the croupiers keep the games moving. The DIY version needs a roulette wheel, a blackjack layout, a poker chip set (see gifts for poker players) and a confident friend to deal.

Personalised touches

• Invitations shaped like playing cards or casino chips, with the guest of honour's face on the king or queen.
• Custom chips: printed inlays with the birthday person's name or the couple's initials; guests keep one as a favour.
• "Fun money" notes printed with the host's face, handed out at the door.
• Table names: famous casinos (Monte Carlo, Bellagio, the Hippodrome) instead of table numbers.
• Favours: personalised chocolate coins and "Lucky Seven" mint tins from our sweets guide.
• A trophy for the "high roller" who ends the night with the biggest stack.

Food and drink

Keep food easy to eat standing up: canapés, sliders, a cheese board. Name cocktails after the games: a "Royal Flush", a "Double Down", a "Black Jack" espresso martini. Have a no-alcohol option on the menu with an equally good name.

Prizes and the rules

If guests do not pay to play and the chips are just for fun, a casino night is simply party entertainment. Things get more formal when people pay to take part and play for prizes, particularly at fundraising events: the Gambling Act 2005 has specific rules on "non-commercial" gaming at events such as charity casino nights, including limits on what can be charged and how prizes work. Reputable fun-casino companies know the rules; if you are organising a fundraiser, check the Gambling Commission's guidance before you print the tickets. The simplest approach for a private party is to give prizes for the top chip counts at the end, with nobody paying for their chips.

Stag and hen dos: the real thing

Many stag and hen parties include a visit to a real casino. Britain has dozens, from big venues in London's West End such as the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square to large resort-style casinos like Resorts World Birmingham and casinos run by the major chains in most cities. Expect to show photo ID, check the dress code before you go (smart casual is typical) and agree a budget for the tables in advance. Groups often book a dinner-and-casino package, with a short lesson in roulette or blackjack included.

For the ultimate stag or hen weekend, nothing beats Las Vegas or Monte Carlo. Our guide to Las Vegas and Monte Carlo experience gifts covers how to plan and give that kind of trip.

A casino night for a birthday

For a milestone birthday, build the evening around the guest of honour: their name on the chips, their favourite drink as the signature cocktail, and a "jackpot" game at midnight where everyone bets their remaining chips on the birthday person's age at roulette. See our guide to milestone birthday gifts for present ideas to go with the party.

Written by the Ribbon & Tag editors.