Rockstar removes the casino from GTA Online for Australian players 

Australian players of GTA Online can no longer access the casino games available at the Diamond Casino & Resort. Rockstar Games has disabled this feature without providing an official explanation. 

The Diamond Casino loses its main attractions 

Australian players have discovered that the gambling activities at the Diamond Casino & Resort are no longer accessible. It is now impossible to play blackjack, poker or roulette, or to use the slot machines. 

However, the resort has not completely disappeared from GTA Online. According to several player reports shared by IGN Benelux, the other missions and activities linked to the Diamond Casino & Resort remain playable. Only the features directly associated with gambling have been disabled. 

A measure taken more than seven years after the casino’s launch 

Casino games were introduced to GTA Online as part of The Diamond Casino & Resort update, released in July 2019. Since then, this part of the game has been an integral part of the experience offered to players in countries where it was permitted. Yet, more than seven years after this update, Rockstar has decided to remove these features in Australia. 

The developer has not disclosed the reasons behind this decision, nor has it indicated whether the feature might return. 

A virtual economy with no real-money winnings 

The removal of the casino may seem surprising given the very nature of this feature. 

Unlike traditional gambling platforms, the Diamond Casino operates exclusively within a virtual economy. Players purchase chips using in-game currency. These chips are used solely to take part in the various activities on offer at the casino. Any virtual credits won can never be converted into real money. 

The system also has another significant limitation. Although players can purchase virtual currency via Shark Cards, this paid currency cannot be used directly to acquire casino chips. This separation therefore prevents the direct purchase of chips with real money, just as it prohibits any reverse conversion of winnings. 

New Australian rules under scrutiny 

Australia has recently adopted new online safety measures, including age verification mechanisms for certain digital content. At the same time, since September 2024, the classification rules for video games simulating games of chance have become stricter. 

Games featuring interactive activities such as roulette, blackjack or slot machines must now be rated R18+, but Grand Theft Auto V has already held this rating in Australia since its initial release in 2013. Consequently, the removal of the casino games cannot be explained solely by this regulatory change, although it may have influenced Rockstar’s assessment. 

In the absence of an official statement, the exact link between these new rules and the studio’s decision remains unknown. 

Australia joins a long list of affected countries 

With this change, the country joins around 50 other countries where the casino features of GTA Online are not available. 

These include, notably, China, South Korea, Portugal, Poland, Greece, South Africa, Argentina and Malta. 

This list shows that Rockstar has been adapting certain game features to comply with national regulations for several years now. 

A decision still shrouded in uncertainty 

By removing access to GTA Online’s casino games for Australian players, Rockstar has added a new country to the list of territories where these features are disabled. To date, the studio has not provided any public response to the questions raised.