Casino Stag Do

A casino stag do is your chance to dress up, play the high roller for an evening and pretend you know what you’re doing at the blackjack table. Most of us don’t. That’s half the fun.

It rarely fills a whole weekend on its own. I treat it as the smart part of a night out, a couple of hours of roulette and cards after dinner before the group heads somewhere louder. It turns up in plenty of packages, usually alongside a meal, a few drinks or a club, so you can find it in a combination that suits your lot.

Everyone can play. Roulette needs no skill at all, and dealers at most casinos are used to walking nervous beginners through blackjack. That levels the field nicely. The lad who’s hopeless at go karting might be the one who walks out up a tenner.

It has drama built in. A dozen blokes crowded round a roulette wheel, all cheering for the stag’s last chip on red, is a better moment than most nightclubs will give you.

And it’s a chance to scrub up. Suits, shirts, maybe a bow tie if your group is that way inclined. The stag in a dinner jacket, looking like a budget Bond, is a photo the bride will actually want.

• Set a gambling budget and stick to it. Decide what everyone is happy to lose before you walk in, bring it as cash, and leave the cards at the hotel. Treat it as the cost of the night out, never as a way to make money. If anyone starts chasing losses, that’s the signal to cash out and go. It should be fun, and when it stops being fun, stop.
• Bring photo ID. Most UK casinos ask for it at the door, and some will want you to register as a member on the way in. Check before you go so nobody gets left outside.
• Check the dress code. Smart casual is common. Trainers and sportswear can get you turned away, and fancy dress usually will. Save the costume for another night.
• Don’t arrive wrecked. Door staff turn away groups who’ve clearly been at it all day. Eat first, pace the drinks, and the night lasts longer.
• Give the stag a stake. Everyone chips in for a small pile of chips just for him. If he wins, he buys a round. If he loses, it was your money anyway.
• Learn one game. Watch a few hands of blackjack before you sit down, or ask the dealer to explain. Nobody minds a beginner who’s polite.

A casino sits nicely after dinner and before a club, or as the second stop on a party bus tour. For a slicker evening, start with a cocktail making session so everyone arrives feeling sophisticated. Most big cities have a casino, but London and Manchester give you the most choice.

If your group would rather keep the gambling to a minimum, a day at the races gives you the same buzz with smaller stakes and a lot more fresh air.