The Office of Residence Life to host CaSemo event this Halloween

Students in the mood to play poker and slot machines are in for a treat as CaSEMO returns to Southeast Missouri State University.

The Office of Residence Life will be hosting its annual gaming night on Halloween this year.

CaSEMO is a "mock casino" where students receive a certain amount of fake gaming chips upon their arrival to the event. The gaming chips can be used to play games such as bingo, blackjack, craps, poker, roulette and slots. At the end of the events students can then cash in their winnings for entries into different tiers of prizes. Some prizes in previous years have included Kindle Fires, gift cards and televisions. Non-alcoholic cocktails and light refreshments will be offered to students throughout the night as well.

Associate director for the Office of Residence Life Kim Fees stated in an email that the goal of the program is to provide an education and social late night activity for students to engage in. He went on to state that this event helps students understand gambling can be a progressive behavioral addiction, become aware of the warning signs, and seek help and guidance for students in dealing with the problem.

Resident assistants are required to work the CaSEMO event and will act as beverage servers, dealers and distributors of the fake gaming chips.

Morgan Grothaus, residence assistant of Myers H1 all, said that this event about having fun.

"I just think it's all for fun, and it will be just like playing a game of cards with friends on a Friday night," Grothaus said. "I don't think that because we set it up like a casino it's going to make them want to go gamble at a casino."

According to the Missouri College Behavioral Health Survey that is `distributed to 3,500 Southeast students each year, 74% indicated that they have never lost a considerable amount of money due to gambling activities. The survey went on to show that 91.3% of Southeast students have not experienced any academic problems related to gambling.

Fees said that she feels giving students the opportunity to gamble before legal age doesn't risk students wanting to go to a casino once they're of age.

"Students could purchase scratchers tickets, lottery tickets, play home poker games, sports wagering, etc," Fees said. "CaSEMO helps students understand they need to create balance in their lives, to understand you can game for leisure, not for life."

Jeremiah Hathorn, junior in the Harrison College of Business at Southeast, said that even though he does choose to gamble sometimes, it isn't based off this event.

"I've been attending CaSEMO since I've been a student at Southeast," Hathorn said. "Even though I do gamble at the casino, I don't feel like this event made me want to go out and gamble, it's actually cool winning prizes and not losing cash to win it."

Free confidential counseling is available on campus at Counseling and Disability Services in Dearmont Hall. Students may call (573) 986-6191 to set up an appointment with a counselor. The National Gambling Helpline is also available 24 hours a day at 1-800-522-4700.

CaSEMO will be held from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 in the Towers Café. A valid student ID is required for admission into this event. For more information about CaSEMO contact the Office of Residence Life at (573) 651-2274.