This candy poker party for kids was a fun way to celebrate my son’s 14-year-old birthday. Hopefully, the ideas here for decorating, activities, and food will inspire your own casino-themed party.
Want more teen-boy-themed birthday ideas? Check out this Nintendo Switch party.
Candy Poker Party for Kids
Do you have a son or daughter with a birthday party coming up? Poker is such a fun theme for your tween or teen boy or girl. Providing candy as the currency of course reaches any child’s heart (or adult’s heart too, quite frankly).
This casino-themed party was actually really easy to put together using this inexpensive poker party decorating kit. The kit provided all of the balloons, cups, straws, plates, napkins, and backdrop. We were able to blow up the balloons using our air compressor, which made it very quick. Balloon arches are easier to put together than you might imagine. The poker decorating package comes with everything you would need – balloon chain and glue dots.
Materials Needed for Candy Poker Party
Note: The following contains Amazon affiliate links. Anything you purchase through these links goes to support the free resources I provide at Meaningful Mama. Thank you for your support.
The links provided help you create the exact look of my party, but I encourage you to make it your own based on your personal budget and taste.
- Casino Themed Party Kit that Includes Balloon Arch and Supplies, Mylar Balloons, Backdrop, Table Cloth, Plates, Napkins, Cups, Cutlery, and Straws
- A Variety of Candy – I chose Butterfingers, Air Heads, Reese’s Minis, Dum Dums, and Werther’s Originals
- Poker Chips
- Playing Cards
- Poker Table – I grew up with this poker table. I think it was used only a few times as a poker table. My parents had a round top that covered it so it could act as a dining table. Recently, it was given to me when my parents moved from my childhood home. I was able to use it for this party as well as my escape room extravaganza. A poker table isn’t needed, but it is a fun addition. The most affordable option I found for you was this travel poker set that looks like can be set on top of a card table. It comes with a folding table top, poker chips, cards, and a carrying case. If you would prefer a poker table with folding legs, this looks like a decent option.
- Cupcake Stand
- Casino-Themed Cupcake Toppers
- Red Oval Ice Bucket – couldn’t find the equivalent on Amazon
- Pizza
- Mini Sodas – Fanta, Coca-Cola, Sprite
How to Host a Candy Poker Party for Kids
Decorate the Poker Table Area
The casino decorating kit from Amazon made it easy. I hung up the backdrop, filled the balloons with an air compressor, and then put together the balloon arch. I went to Party City to fill up the mylar balloons. You can also purchase your own helium tank to do balloons at home. These balloons were weighted down and set to the sides of the balloon arch and poker table.
Set up the poker table and put the chairs around it. At the poker table were some drink cups with straws, cupcakes, and the divided candy.
The kids can decide if they want to have the candies to have different values or have each just worth one.
I also hung a handful of these free poker hands cheat sheets from Cards Chat around the room. The boys had never played poker before, so I thought it would be helpful to provide them with the ranking of the poker hands.
The poker table also contained the cupcakes and some cards spread out for decor.
Decorate a Food Table with a Poker Theme
For the casino-themed food table, I covered our large dining table with a black table cloth. The table provided in the decorating kit I folded to use as a table runner to break-up the design a bit.
Next, set the table using the plates, cups, and silverware provided. I had some gold silverwear on hand so made the choice to switch the black silverware out so it would pop of the black. The napkins were folded with a fan fold and stuck in the cup.
Cards were fanned out and set on the table runner, and I laid other cards around the black tablecloth to fill in the blank spaces.
There were two red tins filled with ice and mini sodas. Whenever I do regular sodas, cans remain half full. I often do liters because it was more affordable, but I thought the mini cans would be cute and add to the decor. While I thought the size was more appropriate for sugar intake, I can assure you the guys just had multiple cans, consuming as much as was provided.
The poker chips were stacked as a pyramid centerpiece.
Food for Kid Poker Party
We provided pizza for dinner – always a winner.
I made red velvet cupcakes, my son’s favorite.
The candy and mini sodas were the other options available. I know! Super healthy, right?!
Setting-Up the Poker Game
These boys didn’t have a clue how to play poker. I let them establish the value of the candy, which they decided would all have the same value.
We taught them Texas Hold’em. My husband thought maybe 5 card draw would have been a better beginner poker game. Here are some terms that might help explain poker to newbies.
I think it can be hard to think of party themes for teen boys, but I would definitely recommend this casino-themed birthday idea.
Want More Party Ideas?
I’d love for you to check out my variety of party ideas here. I will take the time to highlight a few more of my son’s parties from the past.