Written by James Nichols-Worley ’23
What is a sport? Does it involve a ball? Physical activity? Is it stressful? Gambling is a sport in much the same sense that chess or even golfing is a sport.
The Casino Night at St. Mark’s is a revelry of crazy bets and crazier costuming. The dress ranges from a rodeo to a gala to Guy Fieri in Flavortown. Clothing is unique and dazzling. Even the choice of sweats, to swim against the tide, is stylish and cool. The codified uniform of Casino Night is whatever one should wear to have the most fun.
The air in the center was thick. Rock and roll boomed from speakers, from The Blues Brothers to Elton John to the Electric Light Orchestra. The atmosphere of Las Vegas transforms into a small Massachusetts town for one night. Despite the cold weather of January in New England, many students found themselves sweating in the midst of thrills and screams.
The games themselves oscillate from watching paint dry to a paintball fight. Waiting for a seat at one of the crowded tables is horrifyingly dull. Conversely, once someone finds a seat at a table, they’re unlikely to leave. The games are mesmerizing. “Just one more round,” one says to themselves after already losing $20,000 of funny money. It’s stressful, making life-or-death decisions. Even on the verge of going broke, one still finds themselves gambling high stakes.
Poker, blackjack, craps, a roulette table, and a wheel. Not everything needs skill, but everything needs a bit of luck. The games are encapsulating and a wonderful opportunity to spend time with friends. The “House”, or the chaperone faculties running the tables, welcomed everyone with kindness. One is hard-pressed to find a dealer unwilling to explain the odds of the game, or even how to play it. It is not rare (if not, common) that they’ll advise you from making an awful choice.
There’s a uniform. A buzzing atmosphere of music surrounds the center. There’s a sense of camaraderie and competition. The physicality is practical, bodily weariness. Waiting is a chore, much like sitting on the bench only to be put on for the final minute. Gambling and betting may not be a sport in the traditional sense, but one is hard-pressed to deny its similarities. At least at St. Mark’s, the casino night was full of excitement and energy, just like any other hockey games or of conventional sports.