Australian GTA Online users have encountered an unexpected restriction: Rockstar Games has disabled all gambling entertainment at the Diamond Casino & Resort for them. The reason for this is the tightened requirements of local legislation regarding online gambling.
Australian players can no longer use the Lucky Wheel or participate in any casino games, including poker, blackjack, roulette, and private tables in their own penthouse.
However, some casino functions remain available. Players can still buy and sell chips, and also receive 1000 free chips daily. But they can no longer use them for gambling.
The information was later confirmed by the well-known dataminer and Grand Theft Auto series insider Tex2. He examined the game files and found that Rockstar had added special restrictions for the territory with the code AU. The data he published lists the disabled activities, including poker, blackjack, roulette, and the Lucky Wheel.
Although Rockstar has not yet released an official statement, the changes appear to be directly related to Australian legislation, which is becoming increasingly strict regarding gambling and systems that simulate gambling in video games. Unlike a number of other countries that have focused on combating loot boxes and microtransactions, Australia has effectively deprived local players of the opportunity to use free casino entertainment in GTA Online.