This is the poker arm of GoldenPalace, the online casino famous for spending extortionate amounts of money on various bizarre items (a toasted cheese sandwich supposedly bearing the image of the virgin Mary, for example) in order to buy some publicity at the same time. Whilst such publicity stunts are absent from the GoldenPalacePoker site, the brash-and-proud-of-it attitude is very much present, with flashing "CLICK HERE" signs inviting you to download the required software from the outset.

Some might say that this is just over the top web design at work. But others would argue that this kind of brashness is exactly what you need to get the authentic feel of Las Vegas…

The GoldenPalacePoker software client takes about a two minutes to download and install. That done, you will need to enter your name, address and a unique nickname before you can start playing. There is no need to deposit real money at first because there are plenty of practice tables and you will be given a nice wad of play money to try them out. However, if and when you do make your first deposit of real money, you'll be rewarded with a generous bonus (currently 25%) to get you off to the best possible start.

Golden Palace Poker allows you to play a range of games, including Hold'em, Omaha and Omaha H/L. There are also plenty of tournaments available, giving you the opportunity to turn a relatively small investment into several thousand dollars if you have the skill and the nerve to make it happen. Heck, you can even win yourself a seat in the World Series Of Poker if you're good enough!

The gaming environment is as brash and colourful as the home page, with a bright green playing surface and some of the largest pocket cards we've ever had the pleasure of coming across. If you know a player who usually spends all their time squinting at the computer screen because they've misplaced their glasses, send them over to Golden Palace Poker and they'll thank you for the rest of their days. Equally brash sound effects have been implemented to increase the overall Vegas feel of the game, and it's impossible to play here without a smile on your face. Play itself is simple and straightforward, and after your first couple of hands the routine will be so familiar that you'll feel as though you've been playing here for years.

Players at Golden Palace Poker are rewarded for spending time at the tables with Action Points. You can't cash these in, but you can use them to pay for tournament entry fees or even buy gift certificates. This is a nice touch, and it's good to see a poker room rewarding regular players in this way.

The bottom line? Golden Palace Poker is a great place to go if you want a loud, proud, glitzy Las Vegas experience. Unfortunately, showgirls aren't included.

Support:

Customer service can be contacted via web-based e-mail interface, or by calling one of the following numbers:

• From within North America: 1 866 233 7413 (Toll Free)
• From outside North America:1 416 840 9695

Money:

You can deposit money using a credit card, NETeller, FirePay or Citadel. Security is the number one priority of Golden Palace Poker, and 128-bit encryption is employed to protect data transmissions.

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