Even though there’s been plenty to do in GTA Online since its launch in 2013, with continued free updates always expanding the experience, everyone was waiting on the casino. In the game, developers Rockstar teased the massive GTA V fan base for years with the upcoming casino gaming venue.
On 23 July 2019, it finally launched. The Diamond Casino & Resort flung opened its doors to the online public of GTA V. The free update offered a vast range of activities, including missions, new items, and gaming on the virtual casino floor. Given the self-imposed hype surrounding this update, Rockstar had a lot to live up to but overall, the developers managed to deliver.
Here are the key ways in which the Diamond Casino & Resort lived up to the hype.
The incredibly accessible add-on
For many of the updates on GTA Online, players have had to be rich to partake. Of course, with all of the gear and vehicles for sale in the game mode, not many people keep a great deal of in-game cash in their accounts. Despite being such a lavish update, the Diamond Casino & Resort set a remarkably low bar for people to get in and start enjoying the free DLC.
To enjoy the casino, you don’t have to buy the venue, unlike in the nightclub update. You walk in, get a little tour and a breakdown of what’s available to you, and then you’re ready to go. It’s not a side area to the GTA Online experience – it’s integrated into the world by being so accessible. All you have to do is pay the relatively quaint membership fee of $500 to get going.
Nailing the classic games
For the casino update to live up to its billing, it had to nail the casino games. While roulette and blackjack have tried and trusted forms, Rockstar had to bring in aspects of modern gaming to the slot machines. In the slot gaming of today, a range of games and themes is a must. You can look at any of the platforms offering free casino slot games for fun and see the importance of range. Games like Eye of Horus and its ancient Egyptian mythology theme, the horror theme of Blood Suckers, and the classic symbols of Flaming Hot Extreme combine to create an enjoyable free gaming experience.
Recognising this, Rockstar followed the modern ways of online slot gaming, bringing in a range of games for players to enjoy. The games include the ancient Egyptian mythology game Deity of the Sun, the horror-themed machine Twilight Knife, and Diamond Miner, which features a classic vibe. Even though the jackpot methods are very much the same in these GTA slots, the selection of themes on offer certainly bolsters the experience.
The strange allure of the Lucky Wheel
The casino floor features several popular and classic casino games, but one of the most appealing is the big Lucky Wheel in the middle of the venue. It’s strangely alluring and, for the most part, can only be spun once per day. It’s free for penthouse owners or $500 per spin otherwise, but what makes it so enticing is its weekly updates, with the podium car – the ultimate prize on the wheel – being changed each week to keep it fresh.
GTA Online’s Diamond Casino & Resort update continues to prove to be one of the best additions to the ever-live world on GTA V.