New Year's table, an opportunity for feasting, fun, and relaxing with family and friends. And after you talk, eat, and have fun, the best time comes, the game time!

Instead of running to the casinos on New Year's, I have ideas on how to turn your home into one. Good?

Poker, Blackjack, and Roulette are the (holy) trinity of fire that you will play in a casino, and your home has nothing to envy, as long as you equip it properly. So, shall we see what's on the menu?

1. Poker

King of poker by far is Texas Hold'em, but variations like Five-card draw or the fun Omaha are equally fun to play on New Year's Eve. 

Blackjack or otherwise known in Greek as Twenty-One (and with the variation known to us as Thirty-One), is perhaps the most classic New Year's Eve game.

The basics you will need for the above are a good deck of cards, chips, and felt - even better, of course, you can also get a special table exclusively for Poker and Blackjack.

1. Deck of Cards

The most important thing of all is a good deck of cards to enjoy the game with your guests. The best decks are made from 100% plastic, while the most durable ones also have an additional polymer film coating to withstand the test of time without wearing out.

Also, although one deck is needed to play, it is good to have at least two for backup, in case, for example, a drink spills, or to alternate the decks when one is being shuffled and the other is being played with, as they do in casinos.

Finally, you can choose whether you want them to be Jumbo, meaning the numbers are printed in large size, or Regular, which are the classic traditional ones. There is no difference, but professionals play with Regular.

2. Brands

The second essential ingredient for a successful poker or blackjack night is the chips. Of course, simple plastic ones do the job, but if you want to be in the casino spirit, then opt for ceramic or clay ones. Besides the weight that gives a different feel to the game, they also last longer over time compared to plastic ones.

The ideal weight for a chip is considered to be 11.5 grams, with ceramic and clay chips weighing approximately 10 - 13.5 grams. So you can choose between the range of 11.5 and 13.5 grams for the ultimate gaming experience.

It would be good for the set you choose to have at least 500 chips in total, and make sure it includes the dealer and big & small blind buttons for poker.

3. Felt / Table

The table can either refer to a surface or literally a regular table. Usually, both types are foldable and can be easily stored. The surfaces are more economical, but they cannot compare to the quality that a table offers.

Depending on the number of people, the appropriate choice of felt or table should be made, so before you buy, it would be good to know the minimum and maximum number of people who will play on New Year's Eve.

As for the shape, if you have enough space, the oval is what they usually have in casinos, and it is more "professional". Alternatively, for smaller spaces, the octagonal shape can accommodate from 4 to 8 players.

Finally, the color of the felt is more about personal taste. The green is dominant as a classic choice, but if you want your New Year's table to stand out, you can choose black, blue, or red.

4. Accessories

Additionally, if you want, there are also accessories to equip your table. A card shuffler as used in a casino will not require the person acting as the dealer to shuffle every time; if you are missing the dealer button, you can buy one separately, and there is even a timer for changing the blinds. 

Roulette

With its appearance somewhere in the 18th century, Roulette has not changed form and remains unchanged over time, sweeping along in its path anyone it takes. Obviously, to have survived without having mutated over the centuries, it must be doing something right.

Highly addictive, the Queen of the Casino should not be missing from the New Year’s table. You can also accompany it with a mini roulette game with shots, and play at the same time. Whoever loses drinks!

Bonus - Slot Machine!

Ok, it is not the original slot machine from the casino, but it is a slot machine - piggy bank. You can decorate it in your living room for New Year's Eve, so it resembles a casino a bit more.

It's fun for guests to play with, of course, you can put coins inside, and you win with the right combination. And besides being a decor or a game, it is also a piggy bank, so you can put all your winnings there. Win-Win!

Whatever you choose to do for this year's New Year's Eve, make sure you have good company. And keep some money aside to gamble with your loved ones after the turn of the year!

♠ ♦ Happy holidays! ♣ ♥