Ah, November. Dark, gray and cold. Reading Days are but a distant dream and Halloween candy has somehow already transformed into a pile of wrappers. Leaves are long gone, pumpkins lay rotting on the pavement and groundskeeping has removed the campus foliage, which means that all signs of life other than the alarmingly brazen St. Peter squirrels have disappeared. Seriously, those guys are so bold I’m afraid they might jump me and try to steal my GustieWare some poorly-lit night. Start packing on those extra pounds; winter’s on its way.

So what is a Gustie to do? Sit at the library sun lamp desk for thirty minutes a day? Purchase the Bieb’s new Christmas CD (sooooo festive)? Or maybe hibernate in your dorm room. Solace will be found in feasting on EasyMac and other microwave delicacies until April. Might as well be forever.

But no, there’s something better, something worth rolling out of bed for. Something to get you through the season. It’s a paradise only 45 minutes up Highway 169. Driving through the dark and winding woodland roads, a spotlight projects across the sky, cascading beams that can be seen for miles. Nestled in the backwoods of Prior Lake, Mystic Lake Casino is the premier hotspot for Gusties to beat the winter blues.

In association with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Mystic Lake is the fourth biggest Indian casino in the U.S. Upon entering, you stroll through the skywalk with its bright, beautiful kaleidoscope carpet. Rationalizing with yourself, you review your financial limits for the night, all the while gliding effortlessly down the grand escalator. All self-restriction will vanish in a puff of smoke as you transcend into an endless sea of slot machines.

Let me warn you, if you haven’t been to Mystic before, be prepared to be overwhelmed. The ceiling alone is practically a work of art. Resist at all costs laying down to gaze up at its flaming orange glow. No, you aren’t in hell—you’re at Mystic.

Clouds of cigarette smoke float through the air as beautiful women pass by offering free drinks from their carts. Seven gorge-inducing restaurants, including the popular all-you-can-eat buffet, tempt your taste buds. Alluring slots such as “Kitty Glitter,” “John Wayne” and “Lucky Lemons” flash brilliantly in every direction as you wander aimlessly from slots to roulette to shiny new cars displayed on rotating stages. You feel like Jim Sturgess in the movie, 21, except you probably won’t be able to win thousands at blackjack.

Don’t forget to stop by Guest Services upon your arrival. If you sign up for a free Club Mystic card to rack up rewards points, you get to pick a card in the color of your choice to stick in the slots each time you play. It even comes with a clip to fashion to your shirt so you never have to worry about forgetting it as you move from game to game!

Slots aren’t for everyone. For the economic Gustie there are other options, one of those being Cosmic Bingo. No, this isn’t your Grandma’s bingo, according to the Mystic Lake Facebook page. At only six dollars a round, it’s a lot of entertainment for your money, plus, it attracts an interesting array of people. For one thing, it’s only held on Friday and Saturday nights from 11:00 p.m. to 1 a.m. Everyone from the night-owl grandmas, to the bingo junkies with four game sheets, to the rowdy twenty-somethings covered in intriguing tattoos attend Cosmic Bingo.

Get in line early because this is one of Mystic’s more popular activities and it draws a large crowd. As soon as the doors open everyone runs in, and so should you. Dodge through the crowd to get a table up front for your party. Keep in mind that non-smoking section has limited seating, so run extra fast if you want a smoke-free spot. And remember, Cosmic Bingo will provide a sensory overload with flashing lights, glow-in-the-dark daubers, loud music and flying glow sticks. Keep your eye on the prize—your bingo sheet, that is.

So if you need an escape from home this upcoming Thanksgiving Break, or if you need a to get off campus for some fun next weekend, head on over to Mystic Lake. They want your money so bad they will even bus you for free! Mistake Lake? Nah! Feel no remorse, you will regain your losses in soon-to-come Christmas cash and gift-cards. Happy gambling!