Since Roy Keane took over as manager of Sunderland Football Club the city has transformed beyond recognition!

That may be a bit of an exaggeration but theres certainly a renewed energy and sense of direction around the city for all to see.

Now the Gala Casino in the city is tapping in on the feel good factor by offering casino classes to the paying public!

Introductory lessons at the Lambton Street venue give beginners the chance to have a go at gambling. But unlike the high-rolling casinos of London they can do it without busting the bank.

General manager Phil Tait explains: "People who use our demonstration tables like to have that tactile experience of sitting at a real table with real chips, but without the risk."

He added: "People often feel intimidated about joining a casino because of the image that's presented in James Bond films.

"People think they will come in and find themselves sitting beside a man with a suitcase full of cash but it's nothing at all like that."

He added: "It's very universal, there's not many entertainment places where you will find a 72-year-old lady sat next to an 18-year-old."

Since the casino, one of the largest in the UK, opened in 2005 thousands of members have signed up to take a chance on games including roulette, blackjack, bragg and jackpot stud poker where bets can be as low as 25p. And due to new regulations introduced as part of the Gambling Act 2005, which came into force last month, the casino has just introduced Texas hold'em poker.

During the games, members play against the casino's croupiers.

The croupiers's skills are learnt in the training schools and through years of experience on the casino floor.

Phil explains: "Learning to be a croupier is a lot to do with memory.

They have to learn times tables, like the 17 times table, by rote as they deal with the same numbers over and over again. Over time, they can look at a stack of chips and know exactly what's there and what the pay-out is."

The practice of teaching customers the rules of casino and card games is rare in the UK but judging by the success in Sunderland it may soon allow more people to take their places at the gaming tables of Britain.

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