Every player has encountered in-game gambling at some point. Whether it’s blackjack in a GTA casino or slot machines in Stardew Valley, chances are you’ve played a fair share of these games.
While these virtual casinos do a decent job of recreating the atmosphere, real online casinos are still on an entirely different level, and here’s why.
First of all, there’s the matter of real money. Casinos in games give you an opportunity to win in-game currency, which can come in useful while playing, but that’s where it all ends.
Online casinos, on the other hand, are places where you can win actual money
The recent advancements in online gambling platforms have made withdrawing your winnings even easier. For example, with Aviator casino accepting crypto, you can cash out your rewards securely and without the delays commonly associated with traditional payment systems.
Whether you want to use that money on the best games to play in 2025 or something else, is entirely up to you, but the fact is, these rewards are real.
The fact that real money is in play, every hand you play in real online casinos carries a little more weight. This makes the entire experience more fun compared to in-game casinos, where you can lose millions and not really care about it. This also inspires you to get better in games like poker, meaning you’ll sharpen your thinking and acquire new skills that can also be applied to other aspects of your life.
Then there’s the casino experience itself. Modern video games are becoming better and better, constantly improving every aspect of the gameplay. However, casinos are mostly used as mini-games or side attractions that you spend time on between missions. This means the developers don’t pay nearly as much attention to them as to the core parts of the game.
In contrast, real online casinos are all about the games and the experience surrounding them. They’re specifically designed to provide entertainment and keep the action exciting. Games come with various features and betting options, catering to everyone from casual players to casino veterans.
Of course, real online casinos also offer game rosters that go way beyond the basics. Not only are there a number of games you can explore when you join, but you’ll keep seeing new titles added to the game library, meaning that the experience will remain fresh every time you log in.
In comparison, the Diamond Casino & Resort in GTA V, which is what comes to the mind of most players when they think of in-game casinos, only offers six casino-themed activities. Even with fun little touches like there being a real website for the fictional casino in the game, it’s more about the idea than the actual casino gaming experience.
While online casinos are constantly improving, it’s clear that they’ll hardly ever match what you get in real online casinos. It’ll be interesting to see what Rockstar does with their casino in GTA VI. But players will have to wait a bit more for that, with the game now being delayed to May 2026.