The introduction of the Diamond Casino & Resort in GTA Online has raised questions about the similarities between virtual casinos and their real-life, traditional counterparts. Does it trigger the same response to gambling when it’s in a game, or is it its own activity? When does gaming become gambling? This article will look at its mechanics, legal considerations, and psychological comparison between the two.
The launch of Diamond Casino & Resort
GTA Online's Diamond Casino & Resort launched in July 2019. It began by offering a wide range of gambling activities, such as slots, blackjack, roulette, and (virtual) horse racing. The intention was to closely resemble the offerings of real-world gambling. This only adds to the GTA Online world, which has its own economy and communities.
The casino serves as a hub for entertainment and luxury living within the game's virtual world — pretty much like the real world. While real casinos use bonuses such as no deposit bonus UK, GTA uses its novelty to its advantage.
The social environment of GTA Online's casino bears some resemblance to that of real-life gambling houses, providing a space for social interaction and communal engagement. However, the psychological effects of gambling in a virtual world can differ significantly from those experienced in real casinos.
The detachment from real-world financial consequences and the immersive nature of video games can alter players' risk assessments. This area has garnered attention from researchers and psychologists seeking to understand the implications of virtual gambling, but are yet to be conclusive findings.
Why it’s different…
One difference between GTA Online's casino and real casinos that we cannot ignore is in the mechanics and currency of gambling. In GTA Online, players use an in-game currency system (GTA$) to participate in gambling activities. While players can purchase in-game currency with real US dollars, they cannot cash out their winnings into real-world cash. So, this is a one-way money funnel, which changes the gambling dynamic.
This virtual economy system aligns more closely with in-game purchases and microtransactions commonly found in online games, distinguishing it from traditional gambling. While we can say it doesn’t have the allure of winning real USD, it still has the allure of losing real USD…
Legality
The legal landscape surrounding online gambling is complex and varies by jurisdiction. GTA Online's casino feature has been subject to restrictions and adjustments in a few countries due to gambling laws. This comes on the back of microtransactions facing a crackdown, in which they hook children into paying into the game. Studies find that loot boxes, for example, may fall into gambling territory. When adding gambling on top of this, there have been even more concerns.
The number of countries in which GTA gambling is banned in has grown to be very large. This is unsurprising when traditional online gambling is completely outlawed in around half the world.
Final Word
While casinos in GTA Online and real gambling houses share similarities in terms of the games offered and their social environments, they differ in the mechanics of gambling. The virtual casino experience in GTA Online represents a new challenge, particularly in a legal sense, to balance entertainment with needing to protect users.