Slot machines, prizes, food and drinks, and electric energy filled the Iowa Memorial Union Ballroom on Saturday as a long line wrapped around the building by just 8:15 p.m.
The Campus Activities Board, or CAB, held its second major event of the year: Casino Night. Created in 2003, casino night has been a tradition at the University of Iowa CAB has continued for over two decades.
CAB offers alternative events for students and community members to hang out, play games, and win prizes in a non-drinking atmosphere.
“We really try and make sure there’s fun, exciting opportunities for people who maybe don’t want to drink or want something to do on campus that’s fun and engaging,” Executive Director Kristen Schlawin, a fourth-year student at the UI, said.
CAB hosts four major events each year. Schlawin said she’s looking forward to the Taste of Asia event on April 26 and the Springapalooza on May 2.
Throughout the event, three levels of prizes were offered. Some of the grand prizes included a TV, a Nintendo Switch, and a Ninja CREAMi. Smaller prizes included legos, water bottles, and skip-the-line passes for CAB’s future events.
The General Cab and Late Night funds funded the prizes, which the IMU sets aside to create an engaging space in the building. Some of that money is given to CAB to help plan large events like Casino Night.
Schlawin said she loved seeing the whole night come together after a great deal of preparation.
“Just seeing how excited everyone gets and the atmosphere that this event in particular kind of creates is definitely my favorite part,” she said.
At the end of each event, a survey is sent to the attendees to determine what they should change or do differently. The same is done for members to learn how they enjoyed their working experience.
Jiselle Martinez and Isabella Grutzmacher, fourth-year UI students and members of CAB, have both been looking forward to the event and have even invited their friends who were visiting from out of town.
“It’s such an inclusive alternative for students to have something to attend that is non-alcoholic, to meet people and bring people together,” Grutzmacher said.
Martinez noticed one flaw with the event. She didn’t like seeing the backs of the slot machines and hoped the set-up could be arranged differently in the future.
Maria Pereira, a second-year student, said she was hoping to win a prize.
“Last year I won an air fryer, so I’m back to win another prize,” she said.
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Pereira was also looking forward to dressing up and noticed that many more people attended this event than other university functions.
Past CAB members Mary Alice Waite, a fourth-year student, and Grace Koch, a third-year student, agreed that other campus events are usually around 30 people and tend to be crafting events or things of that nature.
Waite added that this event has many more people to talk to and much more to see than CAB’s typical events.
“It’s also a little more daunting because I probably wouldn’t want to come to this event alone without having a friend with me, whereas, at other events on campus, I go alone at the time because it’s a small group,” Waite said.
Linda Lako, a first-year student, attended Fall Fest in the fall semester and was looking forward to another CAB event.
“This is a great turnout. A lot of people heard about it,” Lako said. “It’s a good opportunity for students, and it’s free so everyone can participate.”
