Rockstar Games has restricted access to gambling features in GTA Online for players in Australia. This change affects the in-game Diamond Casino, where users can no longer play blackjack, roulette, three-card poker, slots, virtual horse racing bets, or the daily prize wheel. Players attempting to access these features now receive a notification indicating that the function is unavailable.
The restriction was uncovered by game code researcher Tez2, who found the tag Gambling_Restricted_Geographic linked to the Australian region in a recent update.
In GTA Online, the casino operates with virtual chips that cannot be converted to real money. Australia has now joined a list of over 50 countries that do not have access to casino gambling features, including Poland, Greece, and Israel. Neither Rockstar Games nor Australian authorities have commented on this decision.
Players speculate that the block is related to tightening local regulations, as Australia will require an R18 rating for games simulating gambling starting September 2024. However, GTA Online already holds this rating, leaving the exact reason for the restriction unclear.
Reddit users have called the decision absurd, noting that while various criminal scenarios are available in the game, only gambling has been restricted.