by Rivkela Brodsky
Daily Lobo
No, it's not Las Vegas. It's Casino Night at the SUB.
"I think the whole casino thing is cool," student Jessica Gallegos said.
She was playing roulette, adding she was at the table because she thought she could win the most there.
"I'm about even," Gallegos said. "I'm looking to win."
She said she likes to play games, but she isn't old enough to get into the casinos.
"It's nice to have something to practice at," she said.
She put a purple chip on black 14. The dealer at the table spun the roulette wheel. Red 32.
"I lost," she said. "That's OK."
Dozens of students came to play roulette, poker, Texas Hold'em and blackjack Tuesday night. There was also a poker tournament table.
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Students gambled with fake cash that was changed into chips at the tables. Each student got $400 to start.
Gallegos said it was good they weren't playing with real money.
"It's nice, because I can still win something without having to pay," she said.
Student Lucinda Edington-Giordano came to the table and put an orange chip on the right number.
"I'm rich with $1 tokens," she said.
Student Marc Sarracino said he likes to gamble. He was at a blackjack table.
"I'm a gambling man," he said. "What's better than using fake money to beat your friends?"
He said the event didn't promote gambling because attendees used fake money.
"I'm sure there may be compulsive gamblers here," he said. "But it is mostly all in fun."
Lisa Ramos, intramural coordinator of Recreational Services, said organizers were not allowed to use real money.
"It's not something we even considered," she said.
Anjanette Merriweather, promotions director for Student Special Events, said the event did not promote gambling, because there was no real money involved and all the prizes were non-cash prizes. Prizes included T-shirts and movie posters.
Student Special Events and Recreational Services put on the event. It was the first casino night Student Special Events has participated in.
Student Special Events contracted with the International Casino Academy, which provided the tables and the dealers.
Mike Tafoya, the owner of the company, teaches casino dealing through UNM Continuing Education.
He said the dealers were professionals. Some of them had been through his class.
