«Diamond Casino & Resort»-DLC: gambling has taken over «GTA V»
The newest expansion is debuting a casino in Los Santos. «GTA V» players can spend their well-earned currency in various games of chance – real as well as virtual.
Six years old and still unstoppable. Even the release of Rockstar's other blockbuster «Red Dead Redemption 2» couldn't harm the cult franchise. Thanks to its online mode, which is constantly being expanded and added to, there seems to be no way off this wild ride. No wonder, all these expansions are allowing Rockstar to rake in fat stacks of cash. Their latest DLC isn't even trying to hide their intentions anymore.
The free «Diamond Casino & Resort» expansion is finally letting you enter the eponymous casino. It's been in the game since 2013, emblazoned with the inscription: Opening Soon. The sign is gone now, enabling you to spend your ill-gained goods on roulette, poker, blackjack, slot machines and even horse betting. For 500 in-game dollars, you receive a casino membership including 5000 chips. After that, the exchange rate is 1:1. You can also acquire chips with real money by buying some Shark cards beforehand. However, you can't change your winnings back into real dough. Yet at a time when the discussion about whether lootboxes and the like in games are gambling is in full swing, critics should be practically coming out of the walls.
Many countries such as Portugal or Greece have blocked the new pastime. It may be related to local gambling laws. Affected players get by with a VPN.
The expansion also gives you the opportunity to purchase a penthouse and decorate it with all kinds of luxury goods. You can find the Diamond Casino in Vinewood. The glittering monstrosity cannot be overlooked.
Being the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.