A deck of playing cards wherein at least one card comprises a base layer that bears a front surface and a back surface and a substantially planar holographic optical element that is operatively configured to form a holographic image, the holographic optical element disposed at or towards a surface that is selected from the front and back surfaces the at least one card characterized in that the holographic optical element is of a type that is substantially transparent and manufactured to substantially prevent said holographic image from being viewed in a first range of directions with respect to the selected surface and to substantially enable said holographic image to be viewed from a second range of directions that are outside of the first range.