For any business leaders who associate with the online gaming and gambling industries, it’s essential to be in the know regarding a new milestone that was recently crossed for both sectors.
After a lull in updates, Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) introduced its groundbreaking Diamond Casino & Resort update on July 23rd. As the game approaches six years of age, this highly-anticipated and free content update adds whole new dimensions of adventure, luxury, speed and gameplay to the world of GTA 5. The update developed by Rockstar Games shattered records for player numbers, making it the biggest day and biggest week in the game’s history. The casino floor features roulette, blackjack, three card poker, and slot machines.
Players in over 50 countries have been barred from purchasing chips due to gambling laws in their respective countries. Prominent countries among those banned from in-game gambling include:
- China
- Czech Republic
- Greece
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Portugal
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Sudan
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- Vietnam
- Venezuela
Off the casino floor, players can place bets on inside track horse racing, which is argued to be one of the most profitable gambling options in GTA 5. The only thing that doesn’t come free with this update is the online casino chips needed to gamble in this rowdy, virtualized reality. You can purchase $50,000 worth of virtual GTA chips for roughly £1.00 ($1.50) in real-world currency. Each virtual dollar equates to one virtual chip in GTA 5. As a means of preventing overspending, $50,000 is the maximum amount players can purchase every 48 minutes (equivalent to one in-game day).
Despite this sizeable legal barrier across the globe, the update is available nationwide in the United Kingdom and the United States. Many players have managed to purchase chips and participate in gambling activities by using a VPN at their own risk.
While you can convert your hard-earned currency into GTA casino chips, you can’t turn your casino chips back to real-world money, making this new virtual currency a somewhat controversial gaming concept.
If you’re of age and want to participate in higher-stakes online gambling to win real spending money, there are many alternative online gambling options available. One of the most noteworthy and reputable platforms on the market has been created by a company called Bovada, a pioneer in the creation of online betting experiences. They’ve created the Bovada Casino, offering premium entertainment value and opportunities for winning more than just virtual chips that can only be used in a virtual world.
Instead, Bovada accepts real currency, along with Bitcoin. Their online experience features live dealers and over 100 casino games. According to a Bovada review, the feature that makes their platform stand out most is the option to bet on real professional sports.
While the introduction of innovative in-game GTA gambling has disrupted both the gaming and gambling industries, the update has come along with a lot of other exciting perks that also drew much of the attention.
Primary among these perks is the introduction of luxury penthouses players can purchase with their winnings. If you can’t afford to live an extravagant lifestyle in the real world, GTA offers players the chance to become a virtual millionaire.
The game’s Master Penthouse features stunning views, an infinity pool, spa, lounge area, media room, garage and more. And what GTA update wouldn’t include flashy new cars? This one comes with highly customizable racing cars and luxury vehicles. Among these vehicles, the Vysser Neo Sports Car was announced shortly after the update on August 1st. This luxurious car is based on one of the most distinguished cars ever created in real life, the Spyker C8. Once you rack up enough digital winnings from the Diamond Casino, you can purchase this beauty for $1,875,000.
In addition to all the virtual material wealth offered, the update introduced a new storyline that tasks players with protecting the casino and its owner (Tao Cheng) from a hostile takeover by a cutthroat, oil-rich family hailing from Texas and seeking to build a financial empire.
The appeal of these luxuries and adventures demonstrates that gamers and light online gamblers have a healthy appetite for a virtual lifestyle akin to that of James Bond—a key consideration for both players and those designing these online gaming experiences.
