Vegas night and bingo combine in the SRWC with $10,000 in prizes

Erin Vanjo

The Student Recreation and Wellness Center could have been mistaken for Las Vegas on Friday night. The Eiffel Tower and Vegas strip transformed basketball courts into a carpeted casino.

This year, the SWRC combined its annual Vegas Night with Black Squirrel Bingo in hopes of increasing attendance at the event. Slot machines, blackjack and poker were among the 37 games available.

“Everyone was playing the casino games and anticipating bingo and the prizes later in the evening,” said Greg Schultz, senior aeronautics major and one of the game dealers.

A magician walked around, showing off card tricks to students while they waited for comedian Mike Polk to take the stage. Polk entertained students with a mixture of stand-up comedy and funny videos.

Vegas Night at the SRWC

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“We’re doing this to offer another option for entertainment on campus,” said David Lawson, special events supervisor.

After the comedy show, bingo began. Each student had two bingo cards, and they received an additional one for every $10,000 they had earned from the casino games.

A total of 10 winners scored prizes with a combined value of around $10,000, Lawson said. The SWRC obtained the majority of the prizes, which included an Apple iPad, free rent at Hickory Mills Apartments for a year and a $500 travel voucher, through a sponsorship exchange. Companies agreed to donate prizes in exchange for advertising at the SWRC. Lawson said the rest of the prizes were purchased with a budget that the SWRC has for these events.

“There aren’t many other opportunities on campus to win the kinds of prizes you could at Vegas Night,” said Justine Zola, sophomore fashion merchandising major. “And since it’s completely free, I have nothing to lose!”

Contact Erin Vanjo at [email protected].