Rockstar has disabled Diamond Casino wagering for Australian GTA Online players. The company added Australia to a list of restricted territories that has existed since 2019. The change arrives four months before the planned launch of GTA VI.
Why Australia was added now
The regulatory landscape for video game gambling has shifted since the last major GTA release. Australia's own laws around simulated gambling in games have tightened in recent years. Rockstar's restricted-territory list, which previously covered countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, now includes Australia. The company did not announce the change publicly; players discovered it when they could no longer place bets at the Diamond Casino's tables or slot machines.
What the restriction means for players
Australian GTA Online players can still enter the Diamond Casino and use its other features, such as the penthouse, the Lucky Wheel, and the store. But wagering with in-game currency — chips bought with real money or earned in-game — is no longer available. The restriction applies to all forms of casino betting, including poker, blackjack, roulette, and slot machines. Players who already held chips can still spend them on non-wagering items, but they cannot convert them back to cash or use them to gamble.
Timing ahead of GTA VI
GTA VI is set to launch in four months. The last GTA release, GTA V, came out in 2013, before many of the current gambling regulations existed. Since then, several countries have cracked down on loot boxes and in-game casinos, arguing they constitute unlicensed gambling. Rockstar's decision to block Australian players now suggests the company is adjusting its policies ahead of the new game's launch. It is unclear whether GTA VI will include a similar casino feature or if Rockstar will apply the same restrictions to other regions.
The next major test of Rockstar's approach to in-game gambling will come with GTA VI's release. Players and regulators will be watching to see how the company handles virtual betting in a stricter regulatory environment.
