The best selling casino game of all time, Beat the House is an excellent game that is both accessible to beginners and challenging for veterans. It includes seven casino favorites: video poker, slot machines (2 types), roulette, craps, and blackjack. The games all belong to either "tables" (in which you interact with people, e.g. dealers and opponents), and "machines" (in which you interact with machines only, e.g. slots). Like casinos in the real world, you start the game with a small bankroll in the lobby of the casino, and can move freely from one game to another any time you want. More money can be borrowed from the bank if you run into a little trouble: you just have to remember to pay it back. A register can keep track of the records for up to nine players at once. This includes information on how much money the player had and when they last played. A statistics feature keeps track of how the player performs in every game he or she tries. For example, for blackjack the game tracks the suit and value of each card and the amount of the bet for every hand the player ever plays. Multiple players can play some of the games at the same time, like roulette, craps, blackjack, and baccarat. The machine games must be played individually. What sets Beat the House apart from other casino games is the excellent on-line coach and very comprehensive help functions. Not only can you read up on the rules of any game, but the on-line coach will teach you important strategies, how to distinguish between good and bad bets, and give helpful advice on how to make the best out of your current situation (e.g. current poker hand). The player records let you know how well you did in any game to find the mistakes you will learn not to repeat in future games. The computer players are competent, and both the graphics and interface are pleasing on the eye, although not spectacular by any means. With a plethora of options, the best on-line coach I have seen in any casino game, and solid gameplay, it is no wonder that Beat the House remains today the best casino game ever made. Definitely a must-have for any fan of the genre. Two thumbs up! Reviewed by: Underdogs |