The latest update for GTA Online is perhaps one of the most anticipated since the game launched back in 2013. The fittingly titled Diamond Casino & Resort update will finally let players into the Los Santos Casino.
For over five years now, the iconic neon-lit building in GTA Online has teased fans with an “Opening Soon” sign plastered across its doors, with many assuming that Rockstar were screwing with us and we’d never actually be allowed in. The fateful day has finally come though, and The Diamond Casino & Resort will be available to all on July 23.
Take a look at it in all of its seedy glory in the trailer below.
Here’s the official description for GTA Online’s latest update:
The massive construction project on the corner of Vinewood Park Drive and Mirror Park Boulevard is nearing completion, radically changing the skyline of Los Santos forever. When the brand-new Diamond Casino & Resort opens its doors, one and all are welcome inside to visit, or to stay in the most luxurious residence in the entire state. More than just a place to let go of your inhibitions and your sense of the passage of time, The Diamond is the one-stop destination for quality entertainment, high-end living and a range of entertainment experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
Being a casino, there are of course plenty of games to bet your hard earned (or stolen) money on. Using Chips, which sound like in-game currency for the casino, you’ll be able to play Three Card Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, and Slot Machines.
There’s even virtual horse racing for you to enjoy, all of which is sure to go down well with the dozens of politicians currently looking to clamp down on predatory practices in video games that encourage gambling.
If you head over to the casino’s official website, you’ll see there are two tiers of membership you can get; standard and VIP. If you purchase a penthouse at the casino, you’ll automatically net VIP status.
Penthouses are, as you can imagine, premium properties for GTA Online that come with spa rooms, spare bedrooms and private bars. They’ll also serve as the hub for a new batch co-op missions, at the end of which you’ll earn a shiny new vehicle, though Rockstar won’t specify what manner of vehicle it is.
Finally, there seems to be some kind of loot box-style element called the Lucky Wheel, which you can spin for chips, cash, clothing, or a exclusive new vehicles. Is it still a loot box if it’s a wheel though? Yes. Yes it is.
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Ewan Moore is a journalist at UNILAD Gaming who still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase. After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2015 with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies (thanks for asking), he went on to do some freelance words for various places, including Kotaku, Den of Geek, and TheSixthAxis, before landing a full time gig at UNILAD in 2016.