GTA Online In-game Gambling Suddenly Disabled in Australia

For context, the new guidelines established that any video games containing simulated gambling, such as casino games, must be classified R18+ – which legally restricts them to adults. This would include “[v]ideo games that have interactive activities such as slot machine simulators, roulette wheels or other age-restricted gambling or betting services as part of a broader game.” The guidelines give an example of an RPG “which features a slot machine that players can interact and play with.” However, GTA Online is already rated R18+ in Australia – indeed, Grand Theft Auto V was rated R18+ in Australia upon its 2013 release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. On paper, the movement of the classification guideline goalposts represents no net change in rating for GTA Online. As such, it’s unclear what suddenly prompted the change this week.

IGN has requested clarification from Rockstar.

At least for now, Australia has joined a surprisingly long list of around 50 countries where GTA Online’s casino betting minigames are not functional, including Portugal, Poland, Argentina, Greece, Luxembourg, South Africa, South Korea, China, Malta, and many more.

Online casino gaming (including slots and casino table games like roulette and blackjack) is actually illegal in Australia, and has been for the last quarter of a century under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth). Of course, GTA Online’s Diamond Casino is not an actual casino, and certainly wouldn’t appear to be the sort of thing this legislation is intended to apply to. In GTA Online, players purchase casino chips using in-game currency that is earned by playing the game and completing tasks and missions. It’s true that GTA Online allows players to purchase lump sums of in-game currency using real money, but currency bought with real money was treated as distinct and could not be used to purchase casino chips. GTA Online also features no functionality to turn currency won in-game into real-world money.

Regardless of the broader conversation around Australia’s otherwise world-leading addiction to gambling, a high-profile case like GTA Online is likely to generate considerable cynicism considering it’s not the real thing. In per capita terms, Australians are the world’s biggest actual gamblers, with losses equivalent to over $1,500 per adult every year.

Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.