I really have to tell you how much the Reel Deal casino means to my family. If you read the other Reel Deal reviews I have done, you will see that I often talk about how everyone in the house ends up playing together, all huddled around the computer, screaming and giving high fives, it's the craziest thing. Well, today my in-laws arrived at the house for a visit, as we were sitting around the kitchen table for lunch, I brought out the box to today's review, High Roller. Then a lively discussion with everyone about how much fun these titles are, then the inhaling of lunch and the subsequent stampede downstairs where my father-in-law is sitting on the computer to my left with over half a million in cash winnings. Yes, I will admit it, my father-in-law Larry is the undisputed king of the Reel Deal games.

In High Roller, you assume the identity of a, er, high roller. You roll up to a full service casino, create a profile and begin walking around the casino. The house fronts you some cash, since apparently you are good for it and you begin walking around the casino. This casino has pretty much everything from Red Dog, Poker, Sic Bo, Pai Gow, Let it ride, Blackjack and a ton more games, over 40 by my count.

"Dealer busts! No, Dealer makes 18..."

Now like the other incarnation you view the entire casino from a fixed 3/4 view, you pass over the casino but that same view remains. As you walk, you will see the various games complete with dealer standing at the ready. Now this version looks very similar to the previous Reel Deal casino both in design and appearance. I can't really complain about the graphics as the folks at Phantom design these games to play on the widest collection of computers out there, so don't expect anything to terribly advanced. But the game simply does not need it, the graphics are spot on and the game is so much fun that it really doesn't matter.

Like all the other titles, you can choose to play with real world odds or dream world odds, and to me and my family, this game is best played with the dream world odds, playing slots at $4500 a spin, or laying down huge bets on the blackjack table is so much more fun when the dollar totals are insane. And while I like to gamble in real life, there simply is no way I can afford to throw down $50,000 on a single bet.

"I had no idea there were sinister things afoot in a casino."

Now something else I should mention is that one of the great things about this game, is that it teaches you how to play pretty much all casino games.  I had no idea how to play Sic Bo until this title. Now, the next time I find myself in Thailand and have the urge to play, I'll be golden. But more so, the game features an extensive manual that also tell in detail the ins and outs of each game. You could bring it with you to Vegas and look like a goofball reading it, so please leave it in the hotel room.

Reel Deal has claimed to be the most entertaining PC casino game out there and I am inclined to agree. This time, however, the game has introduced several new online features including a ranking chart complete with championship belt, a guild generator where you and your online friends can meet and join the same guild and then compete against other guilds in tournaments. Plus the standard online gaming stuff, like online chat, build your own high roller suite and various game tournaments. You should know that it does require a subscription.

Gameplay: 8.1
Easy enough for the most jaded and craggy senior citizen to log on and play (right Larry?). Easy to read and use buttons plus a really nifty guide explaining all the various games.

Graphics: 8.0
Not the most spectacular visuals while walking around the casino, but you really don't need it. The game's tables and slots all look really sharp and are easy to read. Building your own suite can be pretty cool.

Sound: 7.5
The ringing of a big win, the built in music, they sound pretty good, but the kicker is the nifty sounds on all the clever-themed slot machines, mind you there isn't as much as in slot mania but the themes do a good job of making little funny noises that match the game, it's cool.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Not a terribly difficult game, but it is terribly addictive.

Concept: 8.0
This, in my opinion is the premier casino experience, you don't have to walk all over the casino to find the game you want, you can just access the menu. You can play every game you can think of and then some. Building your own high-roller room and guild is just extra frosting. The dream world/real world concept is still an innovative idea.

Multiplayer: 8.0
It's great, you can team up with friends, form guilds, play in tournaments and then mock the people that you beat.

Overall: 8.0
It really is an awful lot of fun for people of all ages. I enjoy the variation of the games and the setup of the casino, my in-laws love the slots while my brother likes the tables. You really can't go wrong with this title if you enjoy gambling titles.