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The Hoyle Casino helps you pair good gambling knowledge with Lady Luck to improve your odds.

Do you like the thrill of the roulette wheel or the craps table? Does the draw of cards tempt you, but the fear of losing your precious pennies scare you? Why not explore your gaming interest in a virtual game room? The Hoyle Casino invites you in with the sights and sounds and excitement of a real casino. Stroll around the casino floor to choose your poison from over twelve different games with more than 350 Vegas-style game variations. The base games are Poker, Keno, Roulette, Blackjack, Video Poker, Horse Racing, Slots, Pai Gow Poker, Let it Ride(r), Three Card Poker(r), Caribbean Stud Poker, and Craps.

Look, there are guys and gals playing blackjack, some yawn, others sip drinks, and that old man just made a face at you. Why not join these 3-D gamblers in search of Lady Luck? Choose your own avatar (an image you select to represent yourself) with the program's Facemaker feature. Choose your hairstyle, clothing, and facial features from thousands of variants. Then let your persona take a seat at the blackjack table and enjoy these 3-D gamblers. You'll never play alone as these bashful to boisterous opponents offer up cheers and jeers. The banter creates a realistic casino atmosphere.

This virtual casino is one of the few places I have found where it is easy to get money. The Hoyle Casino puts several thousand dollars in your gaming account and dares you to try to keep it& . or double it. This software, however, is not targeted for entertainment only; learning is also important. If you are new to these games of chance, there is a 144 page Casino Guide Book with rules and strategies on how to tackle each game and steer clear of unwise bets. In-game tutorials and practice modes will help get your feet wet. Hoyle is known for in-depth instruction. One of their intentions is that you be well prepared to experience a professional casino. For over 200 years, "According to Hoyle" has meant playing the game right.

Back in the real world, the logistics of computer play is very easy. To start, just pop in the single CD and go. Within minutes, you can be playing. Some of the more detailed games take a little practice. Play alone or with others. With the multiplayer mode, up to four people can play seven different games on the same computer. Whether for one or four, the Hoyle Casino's interface is easy to use. You just point and click to place bets. Input is focused almost exclusively on the mouse with some keyboard shortcuts.

Once you have learned your way around and conquered your 3-D opponents, you might want to take on some real opponents, via the Internet. After signing up for a service called Flipside giving your name, etc., you log on to the Web and see which tables are open at the online Hoyle Casino For those of you preparing to visit a real-time casino, I hope the Hoyle Casino prepares you well and Lady Luck is at your side. Your first goal is to cancel out the cost of the learning tool. That would be $48 for a downloadable Hoyle Casino software package, $58 for the CD version, and $60 for the download and CD.

Just like the real world, this virtual world of the Hoyle Casino can be addictive. But isn't it nice to know that Hoyle will stake you a couple of grand for your next game? What better way to learn how to play casino games in the comfort of your own home at no risk before visiting the real casinos?