Details of GTA casino launch
In a major update to Grand Theft Auto V, the Diamond Casino and Resort opened in-game on July 23. This allows players to play casino games such as virtual roulette and poker.
The in-game advertisement for the casino says:
You’ve heard the rumors. You want to believe them, and there’s only one way to find out. Let go of your inhibitions, your doubts, your sense of proportion, your credit rating. The rumors didn’t begin to do it justice.”
A player needs to have in-game membership to get access to the casino. There are two tiers of access, the GTA Online Casino Standard membership and a more expensive option, the GTA Online Casino VIP membership. Details of how much membership will cost or how it can be paid for are not available.?
Blackjack, poker, roulette, virtual horse racing, and slot machines will be offered. Winnings can be cashed in for in-game currency, which is used to buy virtual items such as clothing, vehicles, and weapons.
Controversy about this feature
Gambling content inside video games is a hot topic. Pay-to-win transactions and loot boxes have been controversial recently.
The luxury casino is available in the game’s online mode. Players can own the casino, as well as play in it. The developer of the game is Rockstar, the company that also developed the Red Dead Redemption games, which have poker games as part of their multiplayer offering.?
Regulators will be watching closely to see how this new in-game online casino operates.
Because GTA V is strictly for those who are at least 18 years old, there will be no issues about underage gambling. However, regulators will be watching closely to see how this new in-game online casino operates. It may run into some problems with gambling regulations in certain countries.
GTA’s in-game currency can be purchased with real-world money. These virtual funds can then be used in the online casino. Therefore, there are concerns that this constitutes online gambling.?
The UK Gambling Commission recently decided that FIFA loot boxes and packs are not gambling elements because there is no way to benefit in a monetary fashion in the game from these items. However, third-party secondary marketplaces allow players to buy and sell these in-game items. This could also be the case for the new casino in GTA V.