Once a niche hobby, video games have exploded into a multibillion-dollar industry enjoyed by tens of millions of people. With so many games being played across the globe, it’s unsurprising that some of the world’s most popular video games offer players the chance to enjoy a variety of online slots and table games within their gameplay. There’s one downside though, you can’t bet or win any real money. You’ll have to join a licensed online casino to play real-money games.
But if you’re looking for a casino sidequest built into your favorite video games, then check out the following video games that feature exciting casinos and mini-games for you to play.
The most popular video games with casino mini-games
As video game graphics become ultra-realistic, the worlds we explore when we play are starting to emulate the real world even more. So it makes sense that virtual video games would feature casinos with playable casino games. This unique feature is a fun way to incorporate multiple forms of gaming and entertainment into one gaming platform.
Could the future of gambling and video games be more connected than we think? Some people believe that casinos in the future will feature actual video games with complex world-building and deeper storylines to play for money. We can only wait in anticipation to see how the two industries will collide. Until then, here are a few video games that give you the best of both worlds.
1. Grand Theft Auto Online Casino
Even if you don’t play video games, you might be familiar with Grand Theft Auto (GTA.) GTA is a game franchise developed by Rockstar Games that used to cause much controversy every time a new version was released. Grand Theft Auto V was launched in September 2013 and while some might consider it a dinosaur compared to some more modern games, that doesn’t mean people have put this game down in favor of newer experiences. In fact, the introduction of GTA Online a few weeks after the launch of the fifth GTA title has helped the franchise thrive even more.
GTA Online is a persistent online world where players can complete exclusive online missions and try to get rich in the imaginary city of Los Santos. This includes the usual GTA gameplay, where players can get involved in heists, deal with rivals and all the general chaos and mayhem you’d expect from a game with a name like Grand Theft Auto.
For years, the game featured a casino that was closed to players. But everything changed in 2019 when the Diamond Casino & Resort officially opened its doors. Players were ecstatic when they realized the casino that was once a dead piece of real estate would now become an immersive in-game virtual casino.
The mini casino games players can try at the Diamond Casino include blackjack, roulette, slots based on TV shows from the video game, three-card poker and even horse race betting at the Inside Track. The Diamond Casino even has a VIP membership that gives members access to bonus perks like a limo service, penthouse apartments and VIP lounges. GTA V’s dedication to creating a realistic casino experience makes it one of the best casino video games to play.
2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The team at Rockstar Games just loves to make immersive video games with gambling, so they took multiple places on our list. After all, the mega-developer has earned its status as one of the best innovators in the industry.
Unlike GTA Online, San Andreas features multiple casinos that are only available in the single-player campaign. The game was released in 2004 and, apart from the usual hype that the series was known for, it got a bit more attention than usual because it featured a character voiced by Hollywood’s Samuel L. Jackson.
GTA: San Andreas tells the story of CJ, a former member of the Grove Street Families gang, who left to seek a better life in Liberty City (the setting for GTA III) but returned to San Andreas after the death of his mother in a drive-by shooting. During the game, players have to deal with other gangs, crooked cops and government agents involved in shady dealings in San Andreas.
In the virtual world of San Andreas, players can enjoy playing casino games at one of three casinos in Las Venturas, the third city in the game. Even though there are more than 10 casinos that you can visit, only three of them are accessible: Caligula’s Palace, Casino Floor and the Four Dragons Casino. Players can enjoy blackjack, roulette, slots, video poker and even Wheel of Fortune at one of these three virtual establishments.
In the same way that you would craft a gambling strategy in the real world, you can build and improve your gambling skills in San Andreas too. The more you gamble in the game, the higher the chance of winning a prize in the casino.
3. The Red Dead Redemption Series and Red Dead Online
Rockstar Games isn’t only well-known for the Grand Theft Auto franchise. The developer also produced the incredibly popular Red Dead Redemption series, which sees you taking on the role of a cowboy or outlaw in the Wild West.
Red Dead Redemption 1 tells the story of John Marston, a former outlaw who’s coerced into bringing his old gang to justice. The sequel is actually a prequel that sees you taking on the role of Arthur Morgan, a member of the gang that Marston takes down in the original game. The Online edition, meanwhile, is set in the world of the second game and offers everything you loved about the sequel in an online world.
Due to the setting and time period of the Red Dead Redemption games, players technically play in saloons rather than casinos. Some of the classic gambling games you can enjoy in Red Dead Redemption 1 are blackjack, arm wrestling betting, five-finger filet, horseshoes and poker. The second installment added dominos to the list. Red Dead Online currently only has poker, but the game could expand and offer more casino games in the future.
4. Fallout: New Vegas
The Fallout series was originally a role-playing game with strong strategic elements, but the video games evolved into a first-person role-playing experience. Set in a post-apocalyptic world after a nuclear fallout, the last human survivors seek shelter from radiation and deadly mutants in underground bunkers called Vaults. In Fallout: New Vegas, you play a male character called the Courier, who is robbed and left for dead. After recovering from his wounds, he must retrieve the package he was hired to deliver.
It turns out that there’s always room for casino entertainment even in a dystopian world riddled by nuclear warfare. Fallout: New Vegas has seven gambling locations, including the Atomic Wrangler casino, Sierra Madre Casino and the Ultra-Luxe casino and resort. If you manage to escape the deadly mutants and find a casino, you can play blackjack, horseshoes, roulette and slots. You can also learn something new and play Caravan, a fictitious card game created by Obsidian Entertainment for the Fallout games.
5. The Sims 3
The Sims series is the ultimate simulation game. In this fun “life simulator” you’ll create your own virtual avatar and help them succeed (or fail) at life. The game is a breath of fresh air for people who are looking for something a little more grounded compared to other fantasy, adventure or action-packed video games.
Since its launch in February 2000, the franchise has sold millions of copies around the world, with the most recent version being The Sims Mobile, a free-to-play game for mobile devices. However, we’ll be going back to the third edition of the series, aptly named The Sims 3.
In the third Sims title, players could buy add-ons to the game through the game’s store. One of these extra features was the Lucky Simoleon Casino. The introduction of the casino allowed your sims to level up gambling as one of their skills, which allowed for big wins when combined with the Lucky trait in the game.
If you decide to purchase and visit the Lucky Simoleon Casino add-on, you can enjoy Hit ‘em Harder blackjack, Dead Man’s Hand poker, Let It Ride roulette and the Triple Riches Slots O’ Jackpot slot game. Even though Sims 3 is technically a video game with gambling features, casino fans should note that you can’t actually play any of the games. You can build your sims skills and potentially win them prizes, but you can’t control the game or set any bets. Luckily, the best online casinos with real casino games are just a click away.
6. Watch Dogs
There is plenty of action, adventure and thrills in Watch Dogs. The game features real-life cities that have been fictionalized for your gameplay and the hackable components let you customize your experience.
In Watch Dogs, the main character is involved with some criminal masterminds, which means you’ll have to fight corrupt bosses, companies and leaders. Whenever you want to take a break from the main quest, there’s some thrilling poker action with detailed poker tables. The mini-games have add-ons such as poker and roulette. The imaginative and captivating interface will make you feel as though you’re playing at a real online casino.
Gambling video games are proof that casino games were made for online and virtual platforms. If you love the mini casino games in these video games, then you’ll absolutely love getting a complete casino experience on your mobile devices.
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Why play for peanuts when you can play for real money? When you’re done gambling in virtual worlds for virtual money, you should visit a real-money online casino like Borgata Online. Our online casino delivers the thrill of real wagers with a huge selection of games to explore. Our catalog has thousands of slots, live dealer table games, bingo and more. Register at Borgata Online to join in the excitement of real money bets!