Casino gives chance

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2006.


The LBCC Foundation and the financial aid office raised more than $4,100 while hosting the fourth annual casino night in LAC's Nordic Lounge on Friday, April 7.
All proceeds will be used in the financial aid buy-a-book-fund program.
Dorothy Gutierrez, financial aid adviser and co-organizer of the event, said the money that casino night raises would allow eligible students a one-time $200 book grant.
The event included a pasta and dessert bar made and served by culinary arts students, raffles with donated prizes, $2 alcoholic an $1 non-alcoholic beverages, free bottled water, pies donated by Marie Callender's and Polly's Pies and Atlantic Casino company gaming tables, which included black jack, roulette, craps and poker.
"Since this is through the culnary arts program and not Aramark, we're allowed to serve alcohol," Gutierrez said. "It's like a school project."
Toni Dubois, dean of financial aid and EOP&S, said the Atlantic Casino Co. charged the school roughly $2,000 to rent the gaming tables.
"So much was donated, so we only paid for the gaming tables and some food," Dubois said. "But it's not about what we spend, it's about what we earn."
Dubois also explained that last year's casino night raised about $2,500, but this year's crowd was the biggest ever.
Political science major Ricardo Linarez said, "It's my first full semester back to school and my wife told me about this, so we found a babysitter and here we are. We might have won Disneyland tickets already."
Student Michael Flores, just coming away from a craps table with a feverish grin, said, "I've just doubled my money and I'm not even done gambling yet."
Flores said, "This is the first casino night I've been to and although I'm not into gambling much, besides an occasional lottery ticket, I can see why people stand for hours gambling. It's addicting."
Flores also said the crowd seemed a bit older and he felt he was one of the only students attending.
"The dealers make it fun and roulette intrigued me, maybe because that thing spins," Flores said. "But next time I will come with friends."