200-year-old London luxury goods firm Asprey has been making some of the world's most exquisite games for decades, of the sort that wouldn't look out of place in a palace. One of their latest offerings is a beautiful handmade gentleman's poker set in black polished genuine crocodile skin with ceramic poker chips and royal purple Asprey playing cards (above). Priced at about $8,000 it certainly brings new meaning to "poker night". Asprey, founded in 1781, holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales, one of several granted by the British Royal Family over the years. As we reported last year, Asprey decided to return to its roots and focus on its core business of luxury goods representing a high-water mark of taste, refinement and quality after having branched out into clothing and footwear.

[via JustLuxe]

In our technology driven lifestyle, I can't remember last I sat still and played a boardgame that had no rings, buzzers, computerized cash register, credit card swiping sounds or batteries to it. When I was a kid I could play a board game for hours on end. I remember when my dad first taught me how to play chess and backgammon and even though I had no idea what I was doing, it was fun just to play with my dad. Or when I got Monopoly and Life and my "too cool for anyone" older brother and sister actually played with me. Or when my friends taught me how to play the card game Spit and we would have fierce competitions during recess. Dominos was the best to play solo because you could build with them or line them all up in a pattern and watch them fall one by one.

Don't get me wrong, I am a strong supporter of video games, so much so that my husband and I have been training our 8 year old daughter for the past 3 years on how to play all the video game systems possible, but nothing beats the old school board games that have created fond memories from your childhood. If I could have the ultimate gaming room with no thought to cost, this chess set by Grahame Fowler ($1,725) would be the first purchase. It's made from 6061 U.S. Aircraft-grade aluminum and has such a sleek and modern design aesthetic that you might as well have this displayed as a piece of art. Take a look below for other memorable board games.

London's investment bankers who aren't making money on the market may want to try their hand in a new series of poker tournaments that will be held in London. Weath Bulletin reports that The Buffalo Club, which bills itself as "the finest poker experience" will offer prizes up to £1 million per event. The tournament is targeted at amateur players and each game will host between 50 to 100 players. The first event is in March and other events are planned including one that may take place on a yacht. Games are by invitation only and players will be asked to stake up to £10,000. You can request your invitation at The Buffalo Club website.

Going green is all the rage and it's seeping into everything -- even into the casino gaming industry! EGM Green is now offering what they tout as the first ever 100% eco-friendly line of casino gaming products. The main attraction is their line of gaming tables (like the poker table shown above) plus they also make seating for tables and slot machines and luxury lounge furniture. Everything for indulging your hobby and getting the complete casino experience, whether in your home or business.

Speaking of that, does anybody know of any eco-friendly/LEED certified casinos?

Oh my, I don't quite know what to make of the Jewelry 4 Aces line of poker-themed jewelry. They are definitely the type of thing that only a gambling man, or Lady Luck, could love. The line includes rings, earrings, cufflinks and more but the piece de resistance has to be this bracelet which has four diamonds (each over .75 carats) in the shape of the four suits set in 18K gold. There are just 52 of these made, one for each card in a deck, and sell for $12,900 each.

[Thanks, Ilan]

You could spend $2,500 on a poker set but if you are looking for something a bit more casual and perhaps the chance to put your money on the table rather than bring it to the table, cigar maker CAO has you covered. Their CAO Poker Bag has chips, cards, dice and a cedar-lined humidor fitted with a CAO Humidipak. The bag is made of ballistic nylon and sells for $200.

We've all seen our share of super expensive chess sets, but now that poker has become many executives' game of choice, Brooks Brothers is offering a $2500 box set. With that kind of price tag, you're likely to expect a bit of gold or something, right? Sorry, nope. The accent hardware is polished brass and, while the wood is Italian and the leather is British, you may join us in wondering where the $2k+ premium over last year's edition comes from. Still, it is quite handsome, isn't it?

We mentioned earlier that Paris Hilton allegedly bet away her Bentley at her family's casino. PartyPoker, an online poker room, apparently felt pretty bad for Miss Hilton and have offered her a chance to get a new Bentley. To win the car she would have to play No-Limit Hold 'Em against PartyPoker host Mike Sexton. If she won, she'd get the Bentley. PartyPoker says the offer is good for the next thirty days. I'm not betting she's going to do it but it would be a great publicity stunt.

Did Paris Hilton really bet away her Bentley in a poker game? British websites are reporting that Paris bet the car during a game of poker at the family casino. Paris lost the car and now has been banned from that casino by her own parents. Quick, someone grab the keys to her McLaren.