Video games news, releases, esports and culture — all the biggest gaming stories in one place.
GTA Online In-game Gambling Suddenly Disabled in Australia
Rockstar has abruptly disabled in-game gambling features in GTA Online for players in Australia, blocking access to the Diamond Casino's blackjack, slots, poker, roulette, the Inside Track horse racing mode, and the free lucky wheel. These features had run without interruption for seven years since the casino was introduced in July 2019, and the rest of the casino's missions and content remain playable. The reason for the sudden change is unclear, as GTA Online was already rated R18+ in Australia, meaning updated 2024 classification guidelines for simulated gambling content should not have altered its status.
Australia now joins roughly 50 other countries, including Portugal, Poland, South Korea and China, where these casino minigames are switched off. Real-money online casino gambling has been illegal in Australia for 25 years under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, though GTA Online's chips are bought with in-game currency earned through play and cannot be converted back into real money. Rockstar has not commented, and IGN says it has asked the company for clarification.
In short
- Rockstar disabled GTA Online casino minigames for Australian players.
- No clear reason given; the game's rating hadn't changed.
- Australia joins about 50 countries where the feature is blocked.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Simulated gambling mechanics can condition vulnerable players towards risky financial behaviours and normalise gambling practices, particularly affecting younger audiences despite age ratings. Australia's strict gambling regulations exist to protect citizens from predatory psychological techniques employed by the gaming industry, and removing casino features aligns with the principle that even virtual gambling should not serve as a gateway to real-world gambling habits.
The case against
The game holds an R18+ rating and in-game chips cannot be converted to real money, meaning adult players face no actual financial risk. The abrupt removal after seven years without incident or regulatory explanation appears arbitrary, and it contrasts sharply with other games retaining loot boxes and gacha mechanics that some argue are more psychologically manipulative—suggesting inconsistent policy rather than evidence-based consumer protection.
Explained simply
GTA Online is a multiplayer video game developed by Rockstar Games that includes a virtual casino. Players can gamble using in-game currency earned through gameplay on games such as blackjack, slots, poker and roulette, though chips won cannot be converted into real money.
Australia has banned real-money online gambling for the past 25 years. Regulators and consumer advocates have increasingly raised concerns about gambling features in video games, particularly those accessible to younger players, even when no actual money is involved.
These casino features have been available in GTA Online since 2019, operating without interruption for seven years. The game carries an R18+ rating in Australia, a classification designed for adult audiences, which has not previously prevented access to these gambling features.