Fun meets fortune: The gambling side of summer festivals

There’s something about a festival that just makes the world come alive in a magical way. Especially when we talk about a summer event filled with sun and fun. Of course, no festival is complete without good food and great music.

The link between festivals and gambling

If it’s your first time hearing about the gambling side of summer festivals, buckle in, we’re about to take you on a wild, festive gaming ride.

Gambling at festivals is actually nothing new. A closer look at the feature games of chance present at these festivals will quickly help you understand what you’ve got waiting there—from a prize wheel to a pop-up poker tent and a raffle to win that holiday getaway.

One thing we’ve come to understand is that whether in the limelight or hidden in the shadows, gambling has been a colourful part of what makes summer celebrations. Join us as we explore how games of chance have become part of the festival scene:

Rooted in community

Go back to the days before the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas or the rise of local and online casinos, and you’ll find that gambling has long been a fixture at local fairs and carnivals.

These types of events continue to thrive today. Take, for example, the Wisconsin State Fair, where you don’t just get to take part in livestock and cream puffs competitions but also enjoy midway games that are bordering on games of skill and chance. You can toss a ring, draw a lucky number, or spin the wheel to reveal and redeem a prize!

In the UK, there are tombolas (a type of raffle), coin toss games, and lucky dips. While these aren’t exactly high-stakes games, they do offer the hope of lucky wins that fuels the gambling industry.

Mega festivals and mega bets

With big festivals like Coachella, Tomorrowland, or Glastonbury, you don’t just get to indulge in the best the music industry has to offer, but also enjoy games of chance that have been incorporated in creative ways.

At Coachella, for example, you will find branded prize wheels and scavenger hunts run by major companies. These give you the chance to win anything from exclusive merchandise to VIP upgrades. While it isn’t gambling in a legal sense, it mimics the same mechanics of having to spin, wait and win or lose.

In Europe, there are events like the Festival Series in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, where live music, poker games and big tournaments and other casino-style gaming are blended. This one in particular is held at the King’s Resort and attracts both party animals and professional gamblers.

The rise of pop-up casinos

One of the most recent trends we’ve noticed at festivals is the emergence of pop-up casinos. Essentially, these are temporary setups that allow you to participate in different casino games.

They are also popular at some of the more adult-focused events worldwide, such as Boomtown Fair or Burning Man.

That way, players get a real casino experience while pop-ups are still adhering to the legal boundaries.

Plus, mobile gaming has also made its way into the festival scene. With smartphone apps and QR codes, you can enter raffles, take part in augmented reality treasure hunts and play digital scratch cards. In doing so, you stand a chance of winning real-world rewards.

Cake and carnivals

While some gambling options are flashy, others are too cute to handle. One of which is the Cakewalk, which has become a staple of American church fairs and school carnivals. With this, you get to walk in a circle to music, and when it stops, a number is drawn. If you’re standing on that lucky number, then you get to win a homemade cake. Technically, it’s a game of chance. Much like bingo or roulette!

There are also penny raffles, where tickets cost a few cents, and the prizes can be anything from gift baskets to handmade quilts.

While these games don’t exactly offer life-changing jackpots or prizes, they do bring to life the feel of community gambling. The stakes are low, the entertainment value is high, and the community are all captivated by the possible outcome.

Laws still count

While we have festivals and forms of festival gaming activity across the globe, these activities don’t look the same. This is because games of chance, even small raffles, are subject to regulations. In any case, the legality of gambling at festivals remains somewhat murky due to the varied interpretations of gambling laws worldwide.

In the US, for example, all states have different laws in place. So, while some states allow festival-style gambling, others prohibit it. Across the ocean, the UK Gambling Commission has also set details and guidelines in place for tombolas, raffles, and prize competitions available at events.

Regardless of the entertainment requirements, organisers need to remain responsible. Ensure that any type of festival gambling is conducted safely and lightheartedly. This is especially important when it comes to digital and mobile games.

All around the world

During the summer festivals in Japan, there are stalls offering lottery draws, target shooting games, and goldfish gaming. While it’s not considered traditional gambling, it offers a similar thrill.

In Mexico, you can find a traditional festival where you can participate in Lotería, a bingo-type game. You can also find that in some countries with the strictest gambling laws, there are festivals that offer legal and culturally accepted outlets for games of chance. This is common when linked to tradition or charity.

Gambling in the sun

At first, you may wonder why gambling is so popular even in its smallest forms, and why it’s found at festivals.

There’s a moment of suspense that's intoxicating and a hope for a favourable outcome, known best by players in games of chance. It’s not really about the prize; it’s about the possibility of a win, and at the same time, not knowing what the result will be.

Interestingly, while summer brings gambling to the festival fields, it's actually another season that sees the highest gambling activity, revealing that this thrill transcends the warm-weather fun.

It’s a thrill that adds to the joys festivals offer, and gambling simply provides an extra layer of entertainment and excitement that festival goers can enjoy!