Look Sharp Casino

Although it might be Quantum of Solace, with James Bond season rolling around for another sharp-suited festive period, there has never been a better time to think about dusting down the tux, working on your raised eyebrow and practising your best poker hands. Whilst the rest of the country contents itself going out to the pub, a familiar nightclub, or the local cinema, you can go one step further than the punters watching James Bond: with a trip to the casino you could pretend to be 007 for a night…

Whilst it might still have a reputation for being the kind of place for Bond's eyes only (or any other well-spoken spy on Her Majesty's Secret Service) you don't need an expensive evening dress to win big on classic games such as Roulette, Black Jack and Poker. At many of the country's burgeoning commercial casino haunts, such as Grosvenor Casinos, you just need to turn up dressed smart casual. (Whilst your tatty old Converse won't pass muster, at least a tidy pair of jeans will do.) On top of the less strict dress-code, you can choose to play individual or group games, making it a great place to consider if you are on an office night out or even a hen or stag night.

Further, the fun of the evening doesn't need to be dampened by lack of experience. Games such as Roulette - which are more luck than logic anyway - are easy to pick up, and you can learn from fellow players and staff members as you go along. Poker, whilst being a bit trickier (make sure to watch out for the cad sharks and hustlers…), is also fairly easy to get the hang of; there is information and help available at the casino counters themselves for any nervous first-timers.

There are a few things to keep with you at all times: your identification (all casinos require photographic ID or a debit or credit card with valid billing address); your chips; and your cool… Whether you know the game like a pro, or you haven't got a clue, take a cue from the movie hustlers: learn to bluff like a legend, and you are sure to start raking it in…