Frequently Asked Questions

Metro Casino Events is the DC metro area's premier casino party rental company, serving Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. We deliver fully staffed casino nights to corporate events, fundraisers, holiday parties, weddings, and private celebrations. Every booking includes delivery to your venue, full table setup, professional dealers, regulation casino equipment, chips, fun bucks, and complete teardown at the close of the event. All games are played with fun money only - no real wagering of any kind, ever. We are licensed by the DC Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board.

We recommend your package play approximately 60-65% of your active guests, keeping tables full without long waits. For 100 guests, that means a package serving 60-65 players - typically 5-7 tables. Blackjack is the most popular choice for corporate and holiday events: fast, easy to learn, and great for large groups. Roulette makes a glamorous visual centerpiece. Craps delivers the highest energy and works especially well for fundraisers. Poker suits competitive groups or tournament formats. Our quote journey on the website recommends a starting table mix based on your guest count and event type - you can adjust from there.

Every booking includes: delivery to your venue, full table and equipment setup, professional dealers for your full dealing period, regulation casino felts, high-quality denominated chips, fun bucks for guest play, event oversight, and complete teardown. See all services for booking details and add-ons. A Pit Boss - our senior on-site supervisor - is $299 and required on bookings with 5+ tables or 4+ hours of dealing. What is additional: dealer gratuity optional, at guests' discretion, dealer parking if the venue does not provide it free, prizes for raffle or winner formats, client supplies all prizes, taxes, and any add-on services such as photo booth, bartenders, or karaoke.

Our standard package is built around three consecutive hours of dealing time. If your event includes dinner, a cocktail reception, speeches, or awards, dealing time should be scheduled around those - ideally opening after the formal program concludes. We recommend not splitting the dealing period, as this maintains energy on the casino floor. Extended dealing periods are available for an additional fee of 25% of the base rental per hour. Dealing windows as short as two hours are also available when the event timeline requires it.

For most events, 4-8 weeks in advance is sufficient. Holiday season events - November and December - should be booked 3-6 months ahead as popular dates fill quickly, and a minimum of five tables applies. To confirm your date, we require a signed contract and a deposit of 50% of the total within two weeks of signing. The balance is due before or on the day of the event.

Cancellation 45 or more days before the event: deposit forfeited but may be applied to a rescheduled event within the same calendar year. Cancellation 15-44 days before: deposit forfeited as liquidated damages. Cancellation 14 days or less: deposit plus 50% of the remaining balance is owed. All cancellations must be made in writing. Changes within 7 days of the event are subject to a $250 change fee and availability.

For packages playing 50% or more of your guests, we provide one fun buck per person - each worth $1,000 in chips when exchanged at any dealer table. Chips are portable across all tables for the full dealing period, so a guest can win at Blackjack and take those chips to Roulette. For smaller packages, under 50% of guests, we use the "for fun only" format: guests receive a $500 chip stack at any table and return chips when they leave, with no fun buck required.

We offer three end-of-night formats. Standard: dealers call last hand 10-15 minutes before dealing ends, collect chips, and play concludes - best for events without a prize component. Big winner: the top chip holder at each table at close receives a prize you provide - creates a competitive final hour with building excitement. Raffle: $1,000 in chips converts to one double-sided raffle ticket; guests keep one half, the other goes in a prize bowl; your representative draws winners. Metro Casino manages all chip collection and ticket distribution - you provide the prizes and conduct the drawing.

Dealer mode is set based on your event goals. Tight mode - used for fundraising events - means dealers play by strict casino rules, keeping games moving quickly and creating natural re-buy opportunities throughout the evening, which maximizes donation revenue. Loose mode - used for corporate parties and celebrations - means dealers are more relaxed and guests stay in games longer for maximum fun. You choose the mode when booking; our dealers deliver it precisely.

Absolutely. Every Metro Casino Events dealer is trained to explain any game from scratch in plain language. First-time players are welcomed at every table and guided through every hand. Roulette and Blackjack are the easiest starting points - Roulette requires no prior knowledge at all. No guest needs to feel intimidated or left out. Our dealers adjust their pace and teaching style to the table - patient with beginners, engaging for experienced players simultaneously.

Derby Dash is Metro Casino Events' live horse racing game - one of the most visually exciting and crowd-pleasing experiences on any casino floor. Each race features 8 to 12 beautifully crafted 2-foot-tall numbered horses lined up on a long grass racing mat. Before each race, guests place bets at the betting window. Once bets are placed, the announcer declares: "Ladies and Gentlemen... The horses are at the gate!" - and the race begins with the spin of a giant numbered wheel. Whichever number comes up determines which horse moves forward, with the Director dramatically sliding each horse down the track after every spin. Horses surge ahead and fall behind, creating constant tension and cheering until the first horse crosses the finish line and winning bets are paid out. Races run 3-6 minutes each. Guests get to spin the giant wheel, the announcer builds suspense throughout, and the physical movement of the large horses is highly visual and exciting for spectators and players alike. Derby Dash is available as an add-on to any casino package. Visit the Games page for full details → for the complete table menu.

Guests make a donation in exchange for a fun buck, which they exchange at any table for a $1,000 chip stack. Every fun buck is a direct donation to your organization. The primary revenue engine is re-buys - when guests run out of chips, they can donate again for another fun buck. Our dealers operate in fundraising mode, playing by strict casino rules that keep chips turning over and re-buy opportunities active all evening. The casino also keeps guests at the venue longer - guests still present at 10:00pm are still available for your live auction, silent auction, and paddle raise. Metro Casino handles all casino logistics so your team stays focused entirely on your donors and your mission. Read the complete fundraiser guide → for planning details.

Yes - and we do this regularly. Metro Casino Events provides casino entertainment for formal fundraising galas where the organization's program, branding, and mission remain the centerpiece. The casino opens after the formal program concludes, creating a second act that extends guest engagement and giving. Guests donate for fun money, reinforcing the fundraising purpose, play for entertainment, and re-buy throughout the evening - all without the event ever losing its formal character. We describe it to clients as an interactive entertainment extension, not a Las Vegas night.

Yes. Casino fundraising events using fun money are legal for nonprofits, schools, churches, and charitable organizations in Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Metro Casino Events is licensed by the DC Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board. Review our licensing information → before comparing providers. No real wagering occurs at any Metro Casino Events event - ever. We strongly recommend confirming any specific local permit requirements with your organization's legal counsel, as requirements can vary by county and municipality. If you are approached by any provider offering real-money casino events, decline immediately - the legal exposure for a nonprofit is significant.

Your responsibilities are simple: sign the contract, make timely payments, introduce our crew to your venue contact, and have a client representative present the night of the event. Metro Casino handles everything else: delivery, full setup, all dealer staffing and management, fun buck distribution, chip management throughout the evening, chip collection at close, and complete teardown. At least three days before your event you will receive a confirmation with your lead dealer's name, crew arrival time, and all logistical details.

We accept cash, check, Visa, and Mastercard. American Express and Discover are not accepted. Credit card payments are subject to a 3.9% processing fee. Deposits are due within two weeks of the signed contract; the balance is due before or on the day of the event.

Yes. Metro Casino Events works with hotel ballrooms, corporate headquarters, golf clubs, event halls, country clubs, private estates, and tented outdoor venues throughout the DC metro area. We coordinate directly with your venue contact on load-in timing, space layout, power requirements, and setup access. We are committed to complete setup 30 minutes before dealing begins. If your venue requires setup before guests arrive or has restricted access windows, we accommodate that through our planning process.

Derby Dash is Metro Casino Events' live horse racing game - one of the most visually exciting and crowd-pleasing experiences on any casino floor. Each race features 8 to 12 beautifully crafted 2-foot-tall numbered horses lined up on a long grass racing mat. Before each race, guests place bets at the betting window. Once bets are placed, the announcer declares: "Ladies and Gentlemen... The horses are at the gate!" - and the race begins with the spin of a giant numbered wheel. Whichever number comes up determines which horse moves forward, with the Director dramatically sliding each horse down the track after every spin. Horses surge ahead and fall behind, creating constant tension and cheering until the first horse crosses the finish line and winning bets are paid out. Races run 3-6 minutes each. Guests get to spin the giant wheel, the announcer builds suspense throughout, and the physical movement of the large horses is highly visual and exciting for spectators and players alike. Derby Dash is available as an add-on to any casino package. See the Derby Dash full page → for setup details.

Yes - if your venue requires Metro Casino Events to be named on a Certificate of Insurance, this is available for a $99 fee. Please notify us of this requirement during planning, not the week of the event. Other potential fees: early setup, $250 or $150/hr, whichever is greater, if tables must be in place before guests arrive; a difficult venue surcharge, starting at $250, for venues with challenging load-in requirements; and dealer parking reimbursement if the venue does not provide free parking for our crew. All applicable fees are discussed and agreed upon during the planning process - nothing is added as a surprise. Use the Price Estimator → for a general package range.

Three ways: Use the quote journey on metrocasinoevents.com - it takes about five minutes and produces a complete package recommendation based on your guest count, event type, and timing. Chat with our AI planning assistant on the website - available 24/7 to answer questions and help you think through your options. Or call 877.750.6387 to speak directly with our team - we respond to all inquiries within one business day and are happy to walk through everything with you personally.