Top 5 video games that feature gambling
The best gambling mini-games in video games
Despite coming from different backgrounds, gambling and gaming have a lot more in common than you’d think. Both gambling and gaming entertain people and provide the excitement that can’t be found anywhere else.
So it’s no surprise as to why video games and gambling entwine together occasionally to create something that’s exhilarating for players. They combine the thrills of winning through random chance with other gameplay for a unique experience.
In no particular order, here are 5 of the best examples of gambling in video games.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Ironically, gambling is perhaps one of the most wholesome and civil things that you can do within Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas! Whilst you could bet on horses in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, San Andreas stepped it up to include fully-fledged casinos.
You can enter casinos and play blackjack, wheel of fortune, video poker, slots and anything else you could imagine. Caligula’s Palace, Casino Floor and Four Dragons Casino are the three casinos that you can visit and live out your casino fantasies in. Whilst the Diamond Casino from Grand Theft Auto V is perhaps the most well-known casino, San Andreas gave us unforgettable moments.
The Sims 3
Now, The Sims is infamous for replicating incredible life simulations and literally give players the chance to play God in creating their own worlds. The Sims 3 pushed this even further with the Lucky Simoleon Casino DLC which finally gave Sims the to visit casinos.
You can actually build your own casinos with different games such as the Hit ‘em Harder Blackjack Table and Triple Riches Slots O’Jackpots Slot Machine. This DLC even adds a gambling skill that integrates into the Sims’ life. Sadly, you can’t actually play these slots yourself, but you get the chance to build and manage your own casino.
Dead Rising 2
This title sees the protagonist explore the town of Fortune City throughout the zombie outbreak. Fortune City is a Las Vegas themed resort that is complete with different casinos and hotels which is the main setting of Dead Rising 2.
There are multiple references to gambling including different magazines and casinos scattered across the map. You can even play slots at many different locations varying from traditional standard slots to giant ones. There are different roulette games, blackjack and even poker with a stripper! Literally, every location has some form of gambling mini-game and it’s so fun to play.
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
The Dead or Alive series is notorious for its fighting - but the Dead or Alive Xtreme series focuses more on the ladies and relaxation instead. These games are set on New Zack Island with a luxurious hotel and of course a casino on-site.
As the game suggests, you can play volleyball in this game but the main bulk of the mini-games include poker, blackjack, roulette and even slot machines to earn Zack Dollars. Naturally, all of the games feature the ladies in them, for example, the slots contain the ladies on the symbols. Ultimately, these games are dating simulating games but gambling helps to give better prizes to your dates.
Fallout: New Vegas
Now, we couldn’t mention gambling in video games without mentioning Fallout: New Vegas. It’s literally set near the Las Vegas strip and shows the location as a post-apocalyptic Vegas but still with different casinos across the land.
The game features roulette, blackjack and slots with players raising their luck stats to improve their gameplay. Watch out though, these casinos are shady and try to cheat players out of their money. It’s haunting to see faded casinos but an entirely unique experience that you’ll not get to have anywhere else.