Australian players have lost access to gambling activities in GTA Online’s Diamond Casino. Rockstar Games has reportedly introduced a region-based restriction that blocks this feature in the country.
The change stops players from using blackjack, roulette, three-card poker, slot machines, Inside Track horse racing, and the Lucky Wheel. Users trying to access these activities now get a message saying that the feature is unavailable in their region. This restriction ends seven years of access to the Diamond Casino’s gambling content for Australian players. This comes after the launch of The Diamond Casino & Resort update in July 2019.
Australia added to list of restricted regions
Reports from Australian players were followed by findings from GTA Online dataminer Tex2. They found code that shows location-based restrictions for several casino activities. Australia now joins over 50 countries and territories where most features of Diamond Casino are unavailable, as reported by PC Gamer magazine.
Rockstar Games now restricts Australian players from gambling in the Casino in #GTAOnline.
— Tex2 (@TexFunz2) July 28, 2026
Credit: https://t.co/YO25OII8ta pic.twitter.com/o80LgBfvW8
Casino missions and other non-gambling content remain accessible. Rockstar has not publicly explained the decision, leading to speculation among players about the reason behind the move.
Simulated gambling has remained legal under Australia’s classification rules
The Diamond Casino uses GTA$, the in-game currency that players earn by playing or buy with Shark Cash Cards. While players can spend real money to get GTA$, they cannot legally convert any winnings from casino activities into real cash. Because of this, the system is considered simulated gambling rather than real-money gambling. Australia already requires games containing simulated gambling content to carry an R18+ classification. Grand Theft Auto V has held that rating since its release in Australia in 2013.
Australia introduced mandatory classification requirements for gambling-like content in video games in 2024. The guidelines say that games with activities like slot machines, roulette wheels, and other casino-style mechanics must get an R18+ rating. However, GTA Online already met those requirements. Therefore, the reason for the new restriction is unclear.
Recent classification change raises questions
Some players have pointed to a recent classification update as a possible explanation. According to reports on GTA community forums, GTA Online was reclassified for Xbox through the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system on 22 July.
The updated consumer advice reportedly no longer includes references to “high impact gambling”, which would normally apply to games containing casino-style gambling features. Neither Rockstar Games nor its parent company Take-Two Interactive has said if the reclassification is linked to the restriction.
Move comes amid wider gambling reforms
Earlier this month, the government introduced the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, which includes tighter restrictions on gambling advertising across television, radio, online platforms and sporting venues.
The proposed legislation would limit the number of gambling advertisements shown on television, ban gambling promotions during live sports broadcasts and impose stricter rules on online gambling advertising. It would also expand enforcement powers against illegal gambling operators. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the reforms, saying they aim to reduce gambling-related harm while allowing Australians to participate in legal gambling activities.
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