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Encyclopedia WinterCampica - Casino Night
Running from Winter Camps II through XI and brought back beginning at Winter Camp XXI, this event in its early days ran on the last night of camp and allowed campers to try their luck against a variety of games of chance. From time to time, it has moved off the fourth night to where it might fit thematically. Blackjack, roulette, craps, chuck-a-luck, poker, baccarat, Tripoley, sic bo, and computerized Volkswagen Races have at various times found a welcome reception at the Winter Camp gaming tables.
When printed Currency was used, a ready medium of exchange was available. Before its introduction and after its demise, members were issued an allotment of chips from the central bank. Mark Bollman--> crafted a poker chip value system at Winter Camp II which differentiated chips both by size and color and was described 7 years later as "unintelligible to the normal participants". Numerous Arrowmen have made small virtual fortunes during the night, while others fell prey to the immutable laws of probability. One particularly successful gambler was Bob Stone, who struck it rich at Winter Camp IV and lit a victory cigarette with a burning $5,000,000 bill.
In its return to Winter Camp beginning in the 1990's, the event's name has been modified several times to fit with camp themes. At Winter Camp XVIII, it returned in the cloaking of the Pirate Theme as "Shore Leave"; at Winter Camp XXII, it was adopted by Canada Day as "Casino Windsor Night", at Winter Camp XXIII as "Hunches in Bunches" for Dr. Seuss Day; and at Winter Camp XXIX, it followed the "Around the World in a Weekette" theme to Macau as "Tropical Casino Night". Winter Camp XXXIV saw Casino Night combined with the Prohibition activities as the casino was transformed into a Speakeasy. The casino was the focus of the Ocean's 38 theme at Winter Camp XXXVIII, and several weekette-long activities led up to the extended casino time on Day Four.
Casino Night was long noted for the "big poker pot" tradition, where several participants appeared to engage in a poker game with real money, often totaling thousands of dollars, at stake. The tradition was modified slightly beginning at Winter Camp XXII when Ron Donohue and Mark Bollman--> appeared to play roulette (blackjack at Winter Camp XXIV) for real Cash.
Entry Created: 01/15/1999 Last Update: 01/01/2021
Picture courtesy of Winter Camp IX Casino Night wasn't always the posh event it is now. |
See also:
- Bugout
- Casino Buffet
- Casino Snack
- Chopstick Snack
- Computer Use
- Currency
- Dr. Seuss Day
- Hunches In Bunches
- Paul's Home Brew
- Poker Chips
- Presidential Suite
- Snack In The Hat
- Speakeasy
- Spy Day
- Trout Lake
- Volkswagen Races
- Winter Camp Casino Guide
