Aussie Players Blocked from GTA Online Gambling Features

In a surprising turn of events, Australian players of GTA Online have found themselves shut out from the game’s gambling features. That means no more blackjack, roulette, or three-card poker in the Diamond Casino. When players try to dive into these mini-games, they’re met with a notification stating, “this feature is not available for you.”

This sudden ban comes after numerous reports from players across Australia. GTA Online dataminer Tex2 uncovered some code revealing a territory-based restriction on several gambling-related features, including Casino House, the Lucky Wheel, and various table games.

In Australia, any game that simulates gambling must hold an R18+ rating, and GTA Online has always complied with this classification. Players can buy Casino Chips using GTA$, which can be earned in-game or purchased through real money Shark Cash Cards. However, winnings from the Diamond Casino can’t be converted back into real cash—meaning there’s no legal way to win big in the real world through GTA Online’s gambling features. Still, players can spend real money on the simulated gambling.

As controversial as in-game gambling might be, it has technically been legal in Australia. However, this recent block comes amidst a broader government initiative aimed at tackling online gambling issues. It appears that this might be a preemptive move by Rockstar Games.

Interestingly, there’s also the fact that GTA Online was recently reclassified for Xbox on July 22 using the automated IARC rating system, which now omits “high impact gambling” from its consumer advice. This change suggests that the game’s gambling features may have been deemed too risky to include.

I’ve reached out to Rockstar for more information on this sudden change. If the ban turns out to be permanent, Australia will join a growing list of countries where GTA Online’s simulated gambling is off-limits, including places like South Africa, Poland, China, and Argentina. Plus, it raises questions about whether the upcoming GTA 6 will feature similar gambling elements for Aussie players.