Australian players of GTA Online can no longer access the game’s Diamond Casino gambling activities after Rockstar Games quietly introduced a territory-based restriction that disables casino features across the country.
Players attempting to use the Diamond Casino & Resort are now met with a message stating that the feature is unavailable in their region. The restriction affects blackjack, roulette, three-card poker, slot machines, the Lucky Wheel and other casino-related activities, according to code uncovered by GTA Online dataminers.
Rockstar has not publicly explained the decision, but the move comes as Australia continues to tighten its approach to gambling regulation and consumer protection. While GTA Online has long carried an R18+ classification in Australia due to its gambling content, recent changes to the game’s classification and the country’s evolving regulatory environment may have influenced the publisher’s decision.
The Diamond Casino, introduced in 2019, allows players to purchase casino chips using GTA$, the in-game currency. GTA$ can be earned through gameplay or acquired indirectly via Shark Cash Cards bought with real money. Although casino winnings cannot legally be exchanged for real-world cash, regulators have increasingly scrutinised gambling-like mechanics in video games because of their potential link to gambling-related harms.
Australia has significantly increased enforcement across the gambling sector in recent years. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) continues to block illegal offshore gambling websites, with more than 1,750 sites now inaccessible following regulatory action, while broader reforms aimed at reducing online gambling harm were announced earlier this year.
The country has also stepped up oversight of licensed operators. Recent actions include enforcement measures against betting companies over anti-money laundering compliance and breaches of online betting rules, highlighting regulators’ broader focus on gambling-related risks.
Australia now joins a growing list of jurisdictions—including South Africa, China, Poland and Argentina—where GTA Online’s casino features are unavailable. Industry observers suggest the decision could also indicate how Rockstar may approach gambling mechanics in the online component of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, although the company has yet to comment on its future plans.