Wareham residents with a knack for casino games were able to gamble without breaking the bank — or the law — while helping the Council on Aging (COA) raise money for future projects.

The Senior Casino Night event, held on Thursday, May 16, served as a major fundraiser for Council on Aging, a Wareham town department that provides and coordinates programs that help elderly people meet the challenges of aging.

“Our fundraisers are always open to everybody. We really try to involve the community in senior activities,” said COA board member Sharol Frank.

Sponsored by the Advocates for Wareham Seniors and the Friends of Wareham Elderly, the event featured eight gaming tables: three for Poker, three for Blackjack, one for Roulette and one for Chuck-a-Luck, also known as a birdcage.

The event was run entirely by volunteers. Volunteer Dolores Antonio said the idea to organize a casino night was an attempt to engage younger community members in supporting the COA.

“We are trying to get away from just Bingo and our usual lunches,” said Antonio. “Sometimes you need to have something different to get a little younger group of people. People might associate events held by COA as only for the elderly, but they are open to everybody in the community.”

A $3 ticket allowed guests to play and socialize with one another and enjoy food, including cookies from the culinary department of the Wareham High School and famous bread pudding from the Riverside Cafe.

By the end of the game, players could exchange their chips for a multitude of donated gift baskets and gift cards to Lindsey's Family Restaurant, Gone Country Creamery, Marc Anthony's La Pizzeria and much more.

“I have always enjoyed playing poker, so I was thrilled to come here,” said attendee Robert Livingston. “I think people here enjoy the fact that the games are not competitive and so they came here to socialize with their friends and just have fun.”