Phantom Efx will be releasing their Reel Deal casino and slot games again this September, but this year with a major overhaul. The official titles have now been announced: Reel Deal Casino Millionaire’s Club, Reel Deal Slots Blackbeard’s Revenge, and Card Games 2009.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the series, the Reel Deal games play on the PC as a Massive Online Multiplayer casino, or can also be played in solo offline play. (It uses imaginary money, not real money). The casino games include a dizzying array of table games including the popular standbys like Poker, Black Jack, and Craps as well as harder to find table games like Sic Bo, Catch a Wave, and Faro. The casino game also includes slots, but many more slots can be found on the separate slot game. Some of the slots from these games have been adopted by real brick and mortar casinos they are so good, especially the bonus rounds that play out as fun mini-games. But my favorite feature has been the Sports Book, where I can bet on my favorite sports teams based on the actual games and actual results. Phantom Efx offers the premier casino games available, and offer more different games than anyone else. There is a subscription fee (currently $9.99 per month) for online play, but it includes a free new slot machine download every month (that retails separately for $5.99) that you can keep forever and play offline.

I’ve been playing and subscribing for over 3 years – more than 3 times longer than I’ve ever been willing to pay for a subscription before. I love casino gambling, and when I can’t go to Las Vegas this is the next best thing… and this year it’s getting even better. The fully 3-D environment will offer a lot more customization, and new games are being added. My favorite table game, Caribbean Stud, disappeared 2 years ago because of the fees that needed to be paid for the rights to it, but it’s back in the form of “Caribbean Stud Bonus”. I’m not exactly sure what that means but the words “Caribbean Stud” are music to my ears. Another feature in the new games will be more involvement from your “Casino Host”. There has been one in the past, but this year you’ll encounter your host more often, so you can really feel like the Whale you may or may not be able to afford to be in the real casinos.

This game is not for everyone. But if you enjoy playing poker with other people online and casino games, and don’t want to bet real money, then you should check this game out.  This game has done a good job of taking care of my casino fix time and time again in between trips to Vegas.

Here is a press release about the new games:

http://www.phantomefx.com/news/july2008/723081.php

And my editorial about the future of E3 is still coming – I just wanted to get the breaking news about the new Reel Deal games out before other sites.