By coincidence a number of the casinos I've visited lately have been Java sites. Shangri-la Casino is a recent example and it compares reasonably well. But the competition for good Java games is getting stiffer and the better ones are starting to cut into the high-end that's typically been the domain of download sites. Java has come a long way so it's fair to expect a decent game. Shangri-la offers that but not much more.

The website is a clean but simple affair. I think it's attractive and understated, but the Pit Boss finds it a bit dull -- to each his own.

Shangri-la offers an unusually wide variety of the basic casino games. For instance, there are five types of Video Poker. In Blackjack, you can play at $10, $50, $100 and $250 tables with one or six decks. After registering, you can play for fun or money.

As I indicated earlier, the games themselves are not cutting edge Java. Perhaps they're best described as utilitarian: okay to look at, and they play without glitches.

On the support front, Shangri-la offers a number of FAQ pages, as well as email. You probably know by now that email-only support is one of my pet peeves, so I won't rant about it again. Suffice it to say that it's something Shangri-la could do to improve their site.

Sign-up bonuses are decent: deposit $100 to $499 and get a $25 bonus. Anything over $500 will get you a 15% bonus. At the cashier's cage you get one free withdrawal per month with a cost of $10 to $40 for each withdrawal thereafter depending on whether you want it mailed or Fedexed. The Bank Wire option is also available.