GTA5’s Glamorous Diamond Casino & Resort in Los Santos Soon to Open…or Not?

Picture GTA5… a hot sunny day; you are somewhere in the middle of a heavy traffic jam on the LS Freeway. While listening to Vinewood Boulevard Radio, and resting your eyes on the beautiful scenery of Vinewood Hills, you suddenly you realize that…

… the removal of the "OPENING SOON" sign from the Vinewood property can only mean ONE thing! After so many years, months and days have gone by, when almost every fan started losing hope… is it really happening? Has the day finally come for the long-awaited Diamond Casino & Resort to open its luxurious doors?

The Largest Mass Entertainment Complex

The Rockstar team is more than aware that dedicated fans have been waiting for this moment ever since the game was launched. As they say, the doors should be open later this summer. Commenting on the upcoming opening, they describe it as follows:

“With something for everyone, The Diamond Casino & Resort will feature lavish amenities, exclusive shopping, first-class entertainment, and state-of-the-art gaming facilities.

Whether you’re having a night on the town with friends or a seeking a brief solitary escape, The Diamond Casino & Resort is open to one and all. Come experience the tasteful luxury that the Diamond has to offer including best-in-class concierge, valet parking, the exhilaration of spinning the Lucky Wheel for a chance at life-changing prizes, a finely curated selection of spirits at the bars and lounges, a range of sophisticated table games and much more.”

Though sounds like fantastic news, it has sparked numerous discussions and predictions regarding the activities that could be performed inside that facility. To be more precise, regulators are concerned about the gambling aspect of the announced update.

Has Rockstar really greenlighted some illegal activities in their globally popular game or is there really nothing to worry about?

On the Other Side of the Fence

The fact that the purchase of in-game currency with real money will be allowed via microtransactions is the most controversial one. This directly implies that gambling laws would likely block this feature as this activity is prohibited in many countries worldwide. The same debates happened with loot boxes recently…

…as they are also labeled as problematic. The concept sees people pay real money to randomly generate in-game items, which directly implies gambling. Moreover, some people point out the main problem is that possibility to gamble, be it in demo or real money mode, and the potential to lead to the development of compulsive behavior.

As the Law Says

Bottom line is that each country needs to uphold its own laws. Taking Red Dead’s situation with poker as an example, it is more than clear that, if the venue really gives consumers the option to bet using real money, the game will be illegal in areas where gambling is prohibited. On the other hand…

…Rockstar already labeled the entire GTA franchise 18+, which technically means that its content is not suitable for underage individuals. Judging by the speculations made on various forums, the company might actually be testing the law to see what happens. However, even though they haven’t officially revealed anything, a company like this certainly has some solutions regarding the situation.

Source:

“Opening soon in Los Santos: the Diamond Casino& Resort”, rockstargames.com, June 20, 2019.

“GTA online: Grand Theft Auto to get multiplayer casinos amid fears over gambling in games”, independent.co.uk, June 14, 2019.