1 The Tops casino in Fallout: New Vegas

No matter what genre the game is in or what the objectives of the game are—Every game developer ultimately wants to retain its player base. Now, some games have to focus less on that aspect such as competitive multiplayer games, Valve’s Dota 2, or CS2 come to mind. Competitive games need to focus on patches, balancing, matchmaking, and new characters mainly to retain the players.

But it’s a little more difficult for other types of games, especially single-player RPGs like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Witcher 3. These games follow a story through a protagonist and though there are side quests and sometimes, choices to make, they more or less follow a linear progression.

As such, they need to rely on a lot of side gimmicks to keep the players active and interested in the game. One of the things they do is add some mini-games within the game like Witcher 3 has the Gwent card game—Sometimes so absorbing that players leave the main quest abandoned for months to improve their Gwent deck!

A lot of games focus more on the human desire to try one’s hand in a chance-based game. As you guessed, these games try to include casino or slot mini-games themselves to provide a breather, a light activity that players can enjoy after a taxing mission or when taking a break, for example.

In this piece, we’re going to cover all instances of casino mini-games in popular video games that are still relevant today. 

GTA Online

If there’s an open-world game that has been relevant for decades, then it’s the GTA series. The latest game is GTA Online, an online multiplayer version of the GTA V base game.

GTA Online offers a compelling virtual casino experience right within the game. Players can visit the Diamond Casino and partake in skill-based games like poker and blackjack or test their luck on slot machines and roulette.

The casino games capture all the sights and sounds of exciting online casino games, with detailed graphics and authentic mechanics. Whether you’re playing poker, blackjack, slots, or roulette, the rules are pretty much the same as they would be at a real online casino. In other words, you’d have to use the same skills and luck in GTA Online casino games as you would in a Ripper Casino, which makes the in-game gambling experience authentic.  

In this online virtual world that rivals today’s metaverses, players can go to the Diamond Casino for a $500 subscription fee (in-game money). This gives you 5,000 chips to play with and you can earn 1,000 more per day by going to the Cashier Services booth.

These slot mini-games inside GTA’s casinos resemble real-world slots. The game will begin once you approach the slot machine with your character and put your chip in. In fact, it’s exactly like how it would happen in real life, just happening in the virtual world of GTA with 3D characters and animated slot machines! 

Situated at the corner of Vinewood Park Drive and Vinewood Boulevard in East Vinewood, the casino has a large gambling area that allows you to play slots, casino games, or even bet on horse races!

Red Dead Redemption & Red Dead Redemption 2

A game set in the Wild West is incomplete without violent cowboys and fierce gunslingers—But also without gambling! The American frontier, a time period from the early 19^th century to the early 20^th century, was well-known for general lawlessness but also for the proclivity of men to gamble.

Partaking in games of chance was a second habit to these fine and fierce gentlemen and the game brings that out really well.

In the first game (RDR), players can gamble in the many saloons scattered throughout the vast expanse of the award-winning open world. In comprehensive coverage, IGN provides guides to all types of gambling activities—Arm wrestling, blackjack, five-finger filet, horseshoes, liar’s dice, and Texas Hold ‘em.

Though not technically a full-blown casino experience, gambling in these saloons is the Old West equivalent of playing games in a land-based casino later, except perhaps for the occasional notorious gunslinging match.

The second game improved the gambling mini-games further and introduced poker. Players can win really big amounts by just gambling in these detailed mini-games and wagering on several things. All these mini-games especially poker and blackjack feature prominently in RDR2.

Fallout: New Vegas

The Fallout series is known for its attention to detail. From curating the right brand of player experience to putting in the work and doing Easter Eggs right, it’s a game popular for all the fair reasons. So, we can only expect that they haven’t cut any corners when it comes to casino mini-games!

Gambling is a core skill in the Fallout series—Given the game is set in a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. The Fallout series has a total of 11 titles, including minor ones, but only the 2010 New Vegas game developed by Obsidian is prominently set in Vegas.

As for the skill itself, gambling is a part of Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout Tactics as well, apart from New Vegas.

We’re mainly interested in New Vegas, however. There are seven casinos in New Vegas where you can take part in casino mini-games such as blackjack, roulette, slots, and lucky horseshoes. You can also play caravan in various casinos.

You can make thousands of in-game money (caps) by just gambling. There’s even a high-roller reward with a private room and the One Armed Bandit achievement that you can gain by playing slots.

Beware, however. If you’re too lucky you’ll be kicked out!

Hope you enjoyed that. Keep gaming everyone!