Few things liven up an event like the glamour of a casino — the spin of a roulette wheel, the snap of cards, a crowd gathered around the blackjack table. Casino party hire brings exactly that to your venue: a company sets up professional gaming tables and croupiers, your guests play with fun money instead of real cash, and whoever has the most chips at the end wins a prize. Because no real money changes hands, it needs no gambling licence (in the UK, under the Gambling Act 2005). It’s a hit at weddings, corporate events, birthdays and charity fundraisers. Here’s everything you need to plan one.
What is casino party hire?
A fun casino hire company provides everything for a casino-themed event: professional-grade gaming tables (roulette, blackjack, poker and more), all the equipment — chips, cards, wheels — and trained croupiers to run the games. Guests are given fun money tokens to play with, so it’s pure entertainment with all the thrill of a casino and none of the real-money risk. The croupiers also teach first-timers, which is half the fun.
Is casino party hire legal?
Yes — and this is the part that surprises people. In the UK, the Gambling Act 2005 permits fun casino hire for private, corporate and charity events as long as no real money is wagered, and any prizes don’t exceed £600 in total value. Because guests play with fun money, no gambling licence is required. The moment you introduce real-money stakes or cash prizes, though, you’re into regulated gambling territory and may need permits — so for a charity fundraiser, raise money through ticket sales or a separate raffle, not the tables themselves. Rules vary by country, so check your local position if you’re outside the UK; the Gambling Act 2005 and the UK Gambling Commission set the UK framework.
Choosing your games
Most packages centre on the classics, and a good mix keeps everyone engaged:
- Roulette — the showpiece. Easy to grasp, visually exciting, and it draws a crowd (new to it? Our roulette guide covers the basics).
- Blackjack — fast, social and beginner-friendly, with a little strategy for the keen.
- Poker — great for competitive guests; a poker cheat sheet helps newcomers join in.
Pick games your guests will actually enjoy — for a mixed crowd, roulette and blackjack are the safest, most inclusive choices.
How many tables do you need?
A useful rule of thumb is one table for every 20 active guests. That keeps everyone playing rather than queuing, which is the secret to good energy on the night. A typical session runs as a single 2–3 hour block — long enough for everyone to get involved, short enough to stay lively. For bigger events or charity nights, providers can run longer or split the timing.
Fun money and prizes
Each guest gets the same starting stack of fun money, and the croupiers handle the rest. To keep it competitive, most hosts award a small prize to the player with the most chips at the end of the night. Keep prizes modest (in the UK, within that £600 total cap) — a bottle of champagne, a gift voucher or a trophy works perfectly. Many companies will even brand the fun money with your company logo or the couple’s names for a personal touch.
Venue and space needs
Casino tables are bigger than they look, so factor in the room. Allow enough space for guests to gather comfortably around each table, plus room to move between them. Check with your venue and provider on:
- Floor space for each table and the crowd around it.
- Access for delivery and setup (tables are heavy).
- Setup time — providers usually need an hour or two before guests arrive.
- Lighting and power for the right atmosphere.
Costs: what to budget
Pricing depends on the number of tables, the duration and your location. As a rough UK guide, expect around £300 for one table up to roughly £900 for four, with London packages typically landing between £650 and £1,200. A standard package usually includes two or three professional tables, croupiers for about three hours, delivery and setup, the fun money, and a prize for the winner. Always confirm exactly what’s included before you book.
Your casino party hire checklist
Pulling it together, here’s what to lock in:
1. Confirm the legal side — fun money only, no real-money stakes.
2. Set your budget and guest count.
3. Choose your games and the number of tables (one per ~20 guests).
4. Book a reputable provider and check what the package includes.
5. Sort the venue — space, access, setup time, power.
6. Decide on prizes (kept within the legal limit).
7. Pick a 2–3 hour window that fits your event’s flow.
Conclusion
Casino party hire is one of the easiest ways to turn a good event into a memorable one — glamorous, interactive and genuinely fun for guests of all ages and experience levels. Get the basics right — fun money only, the right number of tables, a venue with space and a clear budget — and the croupiers handle the rest. All that’s left is deciding what to do with your winnings… even if they are only chips.
