Is the GTA V Online Casino Real or Pretend Gambling?
Very few video game franchises have managed to capture the hearts and minds of gamers like Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto.
Hitting the 1 million sales mark is usually regarded as a huge milestone for video games, but GTA has sold more than 300 million units since its debut in 1997. Integrating online gameplay only heightened public interest and sales.
The latest instalment of the game, GTA 5, took things a step further by introducing the Diamond Casino & Resort. The casino is open to players within the multiplayer mode of the game. The brick-and-mortar casino is based in the south part of San Andreas and allows players to earn a variety of prizes and GTA currency playing casino games.
Players can spend their virtual winnings within the casino, but they can also boost their in-game bankroll using real money. This ability to use real money to fund gambling creates a problem for some players. The laws in more than 50 countries prohibit players from visiting the casino.
Casino Games in GTA V
Players don’t need a lot of imagination to picture what the Diamond Casino & Resort looks like. Images of the casino’s interior went viral on gaming websites immediately after it was opened. You can play a wide range of casino games including slots, three-card poker, blackjack, and roulette. The slot machines feature a variety of interesting themes from the game. But while some players report massive losses in the casino, others seem to enjoy better fortunes.
A better approach may be to start by practising your gambling strategy using an online blackjack bonus first before you head into the Diamond Casino & Resort. Players can also hit the racing track inside GTA V and place a few horse racing wagers. The casino also has a Lucky Wheel that players can spin for in-game currency winnings, casino chips, and other exciting prizes.
GTA V and Gambling Laws
Grand Theft Auto Online has contributed immensely to the growth of Rockstar Games and the creating studio, Take-Two Interactive. Yet, the gambling aspect—which is a rapidly growing and controversial subject in many jurisdictions—remains a bone of contention when integrated with video games. As soon as the Diamond Casino & Resort opened, a lot of players reported facing difficulties entering the virtual property.
It later turned out that such gambling-related content was restricted in their countries or regions. As such, they couldn’t take part. Countries like the UK, most European countries, Japan, and the USA still allow such access. There are, however, more than 50 countries, including North Korea, Argentina, China, and Portugal, with gambling laws that prohibit players from entering the Diamond Casino & Resort.
Is GTA V’s Casino Real Gambling?
Players in the Diamond Casino & Resort wager and win in-game currency that can’t be converted to real money. They can, however, use real money to fund their in-game purses and spend in the casino.
That’s where the debate on loot boxes comes into the picture. A lot of recent video games incorporate loot boxes that allow players to purchase in-game items, rewards, and surprise features. Lawmakers are, however, calling for regulation of these in-game virtual bets, with the House of Lords Gambling Committee saying that loot boxes should be regulated under gambling laws.
The chairman of the committee, Lord Grade, was quoted by BBC Breakfast as saying other countries are already regulating loot boxes as “they can see the dangers” of teaching “kids to gamble”.
Is GTA V The Only Video Game With Loot Boxes?
The debate about the combination of video games and gambling will probably rage on for a while longer. Though it certainly adds to the list, Grand Theft Auto is not the first game to mesh the two sides of gaming. Like its predecessor, Red Dead Redemption 2 features poker games that players can enjoy against an AI-powered software or other players.
Unlike most games, which feature mainstream casino games like poker and blackjack, Final Fantasy VIII has an exciting Triple Triad game. If you get all your cards on the board using a 3×3 grid before your opponent does, you double your stake. In The Sims 3, players can buy a casino add-on and try their hand at roulette, poker, slots, and blackjack.