Although the number of countries where gambling (including online gambling) is liberalized is increasing, this topic is still partly controversial in many societies.

That’s not surprising, given that real money is involved in this activity, and there’s also the problem of impulsive gambling. This is where virtual gambling comes into play.

Although this type of activity is nothing new, lately, we have seen an increasing number of video games that use casino mechanics. Virtual gambling is gambling with virtual money that usually has no real value. However, they can be pretty helpful when they are part of video games. To see how casino mechanics affect today’s video games, it is necessary to go back briefly to the birth of this idea.

The Early Days

It’s a bit challenging to determine exactly when this trend started. Still, we can confirm that video games included gambling elements in the 1980s. Back then, the games were pretty simplistic, and some didn’t even have visuals. For instance, The Heist, released in 1984, was a text-based adventure game created for the Apple II. It included a casino scene where you could play craps and blackjack.

There’s also Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards, published in 1987. This time, we have an adventure video game with fun graphics that features a casino where players can try their luck at several casino games, including slot machines and blackjack. This was part of this title’s narrative, meaning it doesn’t affect the overall progress.

Things became more interesting in the 1990s, especially with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991). In this game, players can visit the Kakariko Village and play the Treasure Chest Game, which basically allows them to gamble their points to win valuable items. 

Something similar can be done in Final Fantasy VI, released in 1994. In this case, we have a classic RPG title with a casino in Jidoor town. Once again, you can play more than one gambling game, including slots for prizes.

Fans of Super Mario, especially Super Mario 64, might remember that this title from 1996 let them play a Luigi’s Casino mini-game. With its help, they could wager coins and win extra Power Stars. So, this activity had a direct impact on the gameplay. Also, we have another proof that the game doesn’t need to have a specific theme to include gambling as part of its gameplay. 

These are some video games that relied on casino mechanics to enhance player experience in the 1980s and 1990s. Of course, the real revolution started in the 2000s and beyond.

The Modern Landscape

We can’t say that the essence of casino mechanics in video games has changed. Still, the modern titles include more refined elements. They now have complex mini-games instead of simple card games, for example. They also have elaborate locations mimicking land-based casino facilities.

Players can play a realistic-looking poker game in games like Red Dead Redemption 2. On the other hand, we have GTA Online and its Diamond Casino & Resort, where you can enjoy all sorts of casino games. For instance, you can play blackjack, three card poker, and roulette, while indulging in slot machines – via various gameplays, adjusted to the settings of the main games themselves. Many players believe practicing these games has helped them improve their skills when exploring the best online casino in Canada, as they reflect the same mechanics as found in poker, blackjack, and other card games. 

Truly, through mini casino games, video games can help you prepare yourself for high-stakes, real-money gambling, assisting you with cultivating a transferable gambling skill set, which can extend to everything from classic options, such as baccarat, to modern slots. 

The mini games tend to look very realistic and include standard rules, basically, replicating the traditional gambling experience and its mechanisms, which helps with the development of your skills.

We can say the same for popular video games like Watch Dogs and Fallout: New Vegas. They have at least one more thing in common – they are open-world games, and playing these casino games serve as a part of side missions or optional tasks. 

Video Games Based on Casino Games and Casinos

In addition to video games, which indirectly include casino mechanics through mini-games, we also have games based on casino games and casinos in general. 

Simply put, these are simulations of casinos where players can test their skills, improve their results, and check various strategies. Casino Inc, Prominence Poker, Full House Poker, SimCasino, and Casino Mega Collection are some examples of releases providing casino game simulations.

Even though some players might argue that they are not that close to the real-life experience, we can all agree that they look almost the same as the games found in online casinos. The main difference here is that this virtual gambling activity doesn’t involve real money. We can compare them to the demo versions of the games available at many casino websites.

As online gambling evolves, we also expect to see changes in the virtual gambling sector. This sector thrives thanks to the restrictive laws and regulations in many countries where online gambling is not legalized, at least not entirely.