The huge popularity stemming from the high-intensity Texas Hold’em Poker tournaments on television has rejuvenated casinos worldwide. While online poker and other gambling games are a high-growth business, there’s nothing like beating the house in-person, flipping the chips between your fingers while sipping complementary drinks (as long as you keep playing).

Premier Palace Casino offers all of this and much more. Located on the mezzanine floor of the hotel, the gaming parlor is an elaborate VIP hall that resembles the high stakes casinos of Monaco or the French Riviera more than the corporate tables in Vegas, and is all about big game splendor.

Oak-wood paneling, throne-sized couches and a highly-professional staff cater to gamblers looking to double down and beat the dealer in blackjack or play Texas Hold’em against other gamblers.

The $500 buy-in and strict dress code keeps out the annoying riff-raff encountered at some of Kyiv’s other casinos. So come in and try your fortune at American roulette or Bura, a card game fast gaining in popularity, imported from Russia.

Premier Palace Casino (5-7/29 Shevchenko Blvd./ Pushkinska St. 537-4500), www.premier-palace.com