This week’s casino news starts off with an online casino of a different kind. The online casino inside the popular video game Grand Theft Auto is causing a stir around the world as video gamers go to gamble.
Over 50 Countries Ban Gambling In New Diamond Casino
Grand Theft Auto Online has created quite the controversy with its newest large-scale content drop. The recent release includes a new playground for the ultra-wealthy of Los Santos to gamble in the Diamond Casino and Resort. While the origin of this online casino experience is a video game, a number of international governments from around the world have stepped in to ban access to the gambling portions of the new content.
While players from the United States, Japan and Western Europe have been able to access the content, more than 50 other countries have locked the experience from their citizens. Some people from those countries have posted on Reddit about getting around the ban with a VPN. Still, the fact that they have to get around government regulations in order to play in the Diamond Casino is a major controversy.
The problem for the countries that banned the casino play in the game is the fact that you can buy fake money to wager using real money in the game store. Therefore, while you aren’t technically winning real money playing in the GTA Online casino, you are actually spending real money in order to risk fake money in the game.
New Jersey Casinos Celebrate 13 Straight Months Of Double-Digit Growth
New Jersey based casinos are celebrating a 13th straight month of double-digit growth. The revelations follows the news that casino growth reached a 21.5 percent annual increase in the month of June compared to a year ago.
Casinos based in the New Jersey area won $238.8 million from gamblers in June, which is a major jump from the $233.6 million they turned over in June of 2018. Those numbers are according to the New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement.
Following 13 straight months of substantial growth, industry experts are expecting the annual increases to slow down. It’s been an incredible year for the state following the addition of new casinos in New Jersey. While the spikes in revenues are expected to slow down moving forward, there is no doubt the decision to add casinos in the area has really provided a spark to the industry in the state.
Iowa On Schedule To Open Sportsbooks Before NFL Season
NFL and college football fans in and around Iowa are excited that the state is prepared to open its new sportsbooks just in time for the NFL and college football seasons.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed a law making Iowa the 11th state to legalize sports betting back in May. Following months of preparation, Iowa is now ready to launch its new sportsbooks just in time for the start of the NFL and college seasons.
Of the state’s 19 casinos, 18 have applied for licenses to run sportsbooks. It’s no secret that Iowa has pushed hard to have sportsbooks ready in time to capitalize on the massive opportunity that is right around the corner. With six other states bordering Iowa but only one of them having already passed legalized sports betting, Iowa could see a massive revenue haul with its sportsbooks set to launch just in time for the football season.