The Summer of 2019 saw the opening of the Diamond Casino and Resort. When the doors opened, it was considered by many as a landmark moment, nothing like this had ever been attempted before. The arrival of the casino undoubtedly marked an important step forward for the game for a number of reasons. Firstly, it has provided a new and legal way for players to both increase their wealth and the number of cars in their collections. Secondly, it has introduced several new missions increasing the amount of gameplay that’s involved. This was particularly important as many of us had probably believed that we’d done everything there is to do in GTA 5, probably several times over. Finally, it introduced all the fun and excitement of a trip to the casino.
How it measures up
So, the big question is whether the Diamond Casino and Resort has really lived up to the expectations made of it both by Rockstar and the players who have visited it. In terms of numbers who have passed through its doors, it’s virtually impossible to quantify. What we do know is that in 2019 the global sales figures for the game had topped 110 million and that, five years earlier in 2014, 33 million people were playing the online version of the game.
Given that it was an important update to the game, it’s therefore very likely that most players have at least taken a look at what the casino has to offer as well as being tempted into a game or two, if only to see if their luck was in. To put this into figures, it’s more than possible that over 100 million people have played, the sort of numbers that even the real life Caesars Palace or the Bellagio would simply not be able to accommodate over the course of ten months.
The games you can play
Turning to the games, and how well they match up to the ones you might expect to find a typical online casino has been subject to some debate. For example, those visiting or residing in Pennsylvania might find themselves a little disappointed, being as a PA online casino has a wide range not just of games, but also of several variations. There is also a huge selection of different slots to play.
The slots at Diamond Casino have been found to be a little underwhelming. Instead of real casinos’ themed machines with up to five reels offering many ways to win, the ones in GTA 5 are, to say the least, a little basic. They all have three reels and use the same symbols. There have also been complaints that the NPCs seem to enjoy far greater success than actual players – but perhaps that’s a true reflection of the live casino experience when everyone around can sometimes seem to be winning more than you.
Much more praise has been given to the blackjack and roulette games on offer. These are far closer approximations of the versions you’re likely to find in online casinos. In the case of blackjack, there have even been reports that card counting is possible. This is a technique that’s generally frowned upon by casinos as it enables players to predict just how many high-scoring cards are still to be dealt. This knowledge can help to tip the odds in the player’s favor. In terms of roulette, there are all the betting options that you’d expect from the game. And, as it is truly random and needs no skill, it’s exactly like the casino version.
For poker players, it may well be a little disappointing that only the three-card version of the game is available. This is especially true considering that RDD 2 features games of Texas Hold’em, generally the serious poker player’s choice.
There are two other gambling opportunities at the Diamond Casino and Resort, both of which have their fans. The first is the Lucky Wheel that greets you on entry to the casino. Spin it and, depending where it stops, the prize could be anything from new clothes right up to the podium car on display which changes from week to week. There are even a number of cheats circulating which claim to ensure you win a car every time.
The second is Inside Track. This shows horse races from the nearby Vinewood Racetrack and allows players to bet either on scheduled Main Event races or Single Event ones instead. Experience seems to have shown that by betting on the evens favorites, especially in the races when other runners have far higher odds, is a good strategy for winning.
Going up in the world
Another feature of the Diamond comes in its resort element. By doing well in the casino, or simply by investing, you can secure various levels of apartments and penthouses for yourself. This certainly adds an extra element of fun, especially by securing a party apartment complete with well-stocked bar and sound system.
So, when all things are considered, the arrival of the Diamond Casino and Resort has been a great addition to GTA 5. For all of its minor faults, it’s proved to add an exciting new dimension and diversion for players. And, with GTA 6 seemingly still a very long off in the future, we may just have settle for the thrills and excitement that it brings until the whole new game arrives.
