GTA Online's casino update brought in the most players since launch

GTA Online
(Image credit: Rockstar)

GTA Online's Diamond Casino has proved to be a popular destination. The once disused building opened its doors last week, beckoning players in with the promise of riches and lots of things to spend those riches on, including some new luxury apartments. According to Rockstar, GTA Online's citizens are wild for gambling, resulting in the game's busiest single day and week since launch, six years ago. 

Rockstar hasn't revealed player numbers, though it once again shot to the top of Steam's top sellers. SteamDB also shows a spike in player numbers, the largest one since launch, so we can expect a similar trend on consoles. 

It's impressive for a game of its advanced years, but GTA Online has been consistently drawing in players since launch and sees regular spikes. It helps that GTA 5 is one of the best-selling games of all time. 

While GTA Online's in-game currency is used to purchase chips, netting you one chip for one dollar, Rockstar also sells that in-game currency. While Rockstar is no doubt enjoying the fruits of that right now, it has barred the update from launching in more than 50 countries with stricter gambling laws. 

Chris Livingston visited the casino with a bag of money and big dreams, but he left unimpressed. To spice things up, he reckons GTA Online's casino desperately needs Red Dead Online's horses and poker, because right now it's a bit dull. I say it needs to go further. We're talking about a game where you can race cars in giant tubes suspended in the sky, so a regular casino seems a bit conservative. 

Cheers, Hollywood Reporter

Fraser Brown
Online Editor

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog.