Casino Night Fundraiser
Raising funds and awareness in style
Thinking about a casino night for your fall fundraiser? Here's what event committees and nonprofit boards want to know before booking:
No real gambling, guaranteed.
Every casino night we run uses fun-money chips with zero cash value — nothing is ever staked, and nothing is ever redeemed for cash or prizes directly from the tables.
Guests play for entertainment, not payout, which keeps your event fully compliant and worry-free for your board.
State-Compliant.
We work directly with our Clients and the State of Iowa to ensure that all aspects of a Fundraiser follow the necessary laws and rules.
How the Fundraising actually works.
Guests typically purchase chips as part of their ticket or a donation tier, play throughout the night, and separately support your cause through silent auctions,
raffles, or direct giving - the casino tables create energy and engagement, but the giving happens through your event's structure, not the games themselves.
Why nonprofits choose casino nights.
Unlike a sit-down dinner, a casino night keeps guests moving, mingling, and engaged for the whole evening.
That energy translates into donors who stay longer, give more generously, and remember your event well enough to come back next year.
What we handle.
Fall is peak season for fundraiser galas, and Fall/Spring dates fill up early. Reach out now to lock in your date and talk
through your event's format. Full table setup (Craps, Roulette, Poker, Blackjack, etc), professional dealers, and
teardown — so your committee can focus on sponsors, prizes, and promotion instead of logistics!
Here are a few important Questions you may want to consider to ensure a smooth event:
What is your goal? (e.g., you would like to raise $X for your cause.)
What permits will you need?
What style of fundraiser will suit your guests?
Fundraiser Organizations
Philanthropy Causes/Schools/Galas/Churches/Universitys
For the crowd that likes all of the excitement and none of the regret!
Guests purchase tickets for the event. (You can choose to do this on a tier.)
Vouchers and chips (no cash value) are given for game -play. A variety of different games (Craps, Roulette, Texas Hold’em, 3-Card Poker, Let It Ride, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em) are provided for maximum guest enjoyment!
You provide prizes (optional) to be given to the game winners at the end of the event. Guests like to compete for something, and it inspires them to pull out their checkbooks for your Cause!
Proceeds from ticket purchases and other donation avenues (purchase of higher-tiered tickets, extra vouchers, and/or extra chips, etc.) go to the cause for which you are raising funds.
We have additional options for you to increase your event Sponsorships!
Blackjack Tournament Challenge
For a crowd that likes fun, friendly competition
Donors purchase a ticket for a seat in the tournament. (You can decide to do this on a tier.)
They are assigned a seat. They will have vouchers and chips (no cash value) waiting for them.
You provide the prizes that are given to the players who place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, etc.
Proceeds from ticket purchases and other donation avenues (purchase of higher-tiered tickets, extra vouchers, and/or extra chips, etc.) go to the cause for which you are raising funds.
Poker Tournament
The ultimate in competition - just like on TV!
Participants/Donors purchase a ticket to your event.
They are provided with a Buy-in Voucher and Tournament Chips (No Cash Value). Rebuys are allowed to raise extra funds for the cause!
Players compete in a poker tournament just like on TV, complete with Dealers and a Tournament Director!
Includes Tournament software and monitor display for blind structure, time remaining in each level, and average chip stack.
The customized tournament schedule also allows for timely completion within your allotted event timeframe.You provide prizes to your donors for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place (or more!) and High Hand of the Tournament.
Proceeds from vouchers and rebuys go to your cause or charity!
Casino Party Fundraiser Rules
(Directly from the State of Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals)
The licenses that allow this are 14-day, 90-day, 180-day, 1-year, and 2-year Qualfied Organizaiton (QO) licenses.
A Game Night is an event where casino-style games may be conducted over a period not to exceed 24 hours (see 99B.1(19)).
Important aspects to licensed Game Nights in Iowa:
Each QO licensee may only conduct 1 per calendar month. 99B.26(1)
These events can be open to the public and there is no minimum age to participate.
Although the QO can set a minimum if they wish, it is suggested that they make the minimum no higher than 21 years old.No one participant may spend over $250 towards gambling during a Game Night. This would include raffles and bingo occurring during the event even though those activites won't involve your company. Food, drinks, and other non-gambling costs would not count toward this limit.--99B.26(1)(d)
No one participant may win over $5,000 in prizes at the event and the aggregate amount of all prizes for all participants shall not exceed $10,000 in prize value. These prizes can be cash or merchandise.--99B.26(2)(b)
Participants are not allowed to use credit cards to pay.
Oftentimes QO's only have a few prizes to give out to dozens or hundred of participants.
What are approved ways for QO's to determine who wins the prizes?
Immediately win a prize each game/hand.
Cash in/cash out. When each participant finishes for the night they can simply cash out for the value of their chips.
The top chip or funny money winner at the end of the night gets the top prize, second best wins the #2 prize, etc or the top winner gets a choice.
Prizes are assigned a set cost and the participants may purchase the prizes with their chips or funny money.
Hold an auction where the top bidder gets the item being auctioned.
Not all Game Nights need a license. The key factor is whether or not anyone is PAYING to play
casino-style games or PAYING to get into an event where there are casino-style games offered.
For example, a for-profit business wants to hire a casino party company to conduct a Game Night for a completely free holiday party
for all their employees and they hire a casino party company for their services. They would NOT need a gambling license.
Tips for a Successful Fundraising Event:
OBTAIN YOUR LICENSE FROM THE STATE!
Plan in advance. (Book your event at least two months in advance.)
Define the purpose and goal of your event,
Set your budget.
Delegate responsibilities if you and a team are planning your event.
MARKET! MARKET! MARKET!
Sell tickets and collect donations.
Do an event run-through.
After your event, send thank-you notes to your donors!