Can You Have a Fun Casino Outside? Expert Advice from Mock Vegas

Can You Have a Fun Casino Outside? Yes... But Only If You Do It Properly!

It's a warm, balmy summer evening, the drinks are flowing, guests are enjoying themselves under a beautiful marquee and the roulette wheel is spinning as the sun begins to set. With everything in place and coming together it’s the perfect setting for a fun casino hire. However, after supplying fun casino entertainment, roulette hire and blackjack hire across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex, London and the South of England for decades, I've learnt the Great British Summer doesn't care how much planning you've done.

Outdoor casino parties can be fantastic but without a few simple precautions they can become memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Here is What Mock Vegas Learnt the Hard Way

Gazebos will not work - several years ago we were booked for a summer party at a private home. The casino tables were positioned beneath a lightweight gazebo on a large patio. It had been beautiful weather for days, so nobody was particularly worried. While I was driving to another venue I received a call from the croupiers hired to deal on the tables. Shortly before they got there a sudden heavy summer downpour had arrived and the weight of the water collapsed the roof of the gazebo, dumping gallons of water straight onto thousands of pounds worth of professional casino equipment.

The tables were ruined and therefore the casino never opened. The client had paid for entertainment that simply couldn't happen now and I had an expensive repair and replacement bill.

Rain Isn't Always the Problem

Another customer booked exactly what I recommended, a proper marquee and they had borrowed a powerful heater (this was in February). Keeping everyone warm is obvious but for the croupier it is difficult to grip cards and chips with cold fingers, which slows the games right down.

Unfortunately though, he had skimped on the flooring. After days of rain he had laid old domestic carpet directly onto the lawn, which seemed fine at first. Then guests started arriving and entering the warm marquee. The ground underneath was saturated and the water gradually seeped through the carpet until everyone was standing in nearly an inch of freezing water. Ladies wearing elegant shoes found their heels disappearing into the soggy carpet and their toes were frozen. Before long many guests abandoned the casino and headed back into the warm, dry house. Nobody wanted to stay out there for long.

What About Playing Poker/Cards Outside?

People often imagine blackjack hire on an open terrace or poker beneath the stars, but it’s all spoilt because the cards can literally blow off the table! Even a gentle breeze can turn cards over, exposing a hand. I have heard of swim-up blackjack tables in Vegas but have you ever heard of a real open-air casino? Real casinos don't have open windows for exactly the same reason. If the venue has exposed sides the fun casino tables need to be positioned well away from them where the air is still, that works fine.

Your Casino Tables Aren't Like Ordinary Furniture

Mock Vegas casino tables are purpose built professional equipment worth thousands of pounds. Just like tables in a real casino, they have specialist cloth playing surfaces that don't mix well with water. We don't even allow drinks on the tables. The tables are also assembled on site. They slot together and are secured with brackets, so if it suddenly starts raining they need to be dismantled first, you can't simply pick one up and dash indoors. That's why prevention is always far better than panic.

One Booking Where I Had To Insist.....

A City law firm had hired us for an afternoon event on a spectacular roof terrace high above the city. The weather was glorious, around 30°C, and the terrace was sheltered from the wind. Obviously the floor was level, not a hint of rain, but there was one problem - before they even formalised booking I'd explained that our croupiers would need protection from direct sunshine. It’s common sense that standing in one spot for three hours in extreme heat simply isn't safe. When we arrived, they pointed us towards the full sun terrace because the shaded area had been reserved for the caterers, so I reminded them about our very first conversation. Their response was, "The catering staff don't mind." I had to politely point out that the catering staff were based in the shade and moving around all afternoon. Our croupiers would be standing in exactly the same place for three hours, in direct sunlight. I summed up my case by pointing out that they must understand my concern because they had thoughtfully provided sunscreen and sun hats for their guests.

To their credit, they quickly arranged large patio parasols. Croupiers and players alike stayed comfortable, nobody got sunburnt and the casino was a success.

When Outdoor Casinos Work Brilliantly

Mock Vegas has delivered plenty of wonderful outdoor events. Many venues now have beautiful semi-permanent marquees, sailcloth tents and giant tipis. Provided the casino tables are positioned away from exposed openings, with flooring and heating if needed, they create a fun and exciting atmosphere. Sound carries on a warm summer evening and there really is something special about hearing cheers drifting through an open marquee when the roulette ball drops.

My Advice After Decades in the Business

If you're planning outdoor fun casino hire, keep it simple:

Hire a professional marquee with sides. A lightweight gazebo will not do.

Make sure there's a proper, level(ish) floor. Your patio?

Arrange some kind of heating even during summer (you know yourself evenings can turn very chilly).

Plan a casino space away from exposed openings.

Think about shade as well as rain.

Remember that guest comfort is important, or they’ll go indoors or go home!

Experience means spotting problems before they become problems!

If you would like a friendly, non-committal chat about your casino, please call 08006127737 or use our contact page.