GTA Online Pulls Major Feature With No Warning

With Grand Theft Auto 6 only months away at this point, players are getting themselves prepared for an epic new experience with the next-best thing by diving into GTA Online. Seeing as the next major installment in the franchise will usher in a new era for GTA Online, it’s widely expected that Rockstar’s next online experience will eventually become the franchise’s primary multiplayer destination.

Although Take-Two has said it intends to continue supporting the current version of GTA Online for as long as there’s an active audience, the bulk of Rockstar’s long-term development efforts will likely shift toward GTA 6‘s online component once it arrives. That means major content updates for GTA 5‘s version of GTA Online could become less frequent over time, even if the service itself remains available for years to come.

However, fans definitely weren’t expecting to start losing features quite yet given GTA 6 is still months away, yet Rockstar has quietly pulled a major feature from GTA Online without saying a word in advance (via IGN).

Rockstar Games

According to recent reports, Rockstar Games has quietly disabled all gambling activities in GTA Online‘s Diamond Casino & Resort for players in Australia, leaving many fans confused as to why the restriction was introduced nearly seven years after the casino first launched.

While Australian players can still enter the casino, complete its missions, and buy or sell casino chips, they can no longer access blackjack, roulette, poker, slot machines, horse racing, the Lucky Wheel, or other games of chance. Attempting to use these features now simply displays a message stating they are unavailable in the region.

The change was first spotted by players before Rockstar dataminer Tez2 uncovered new game code referencing a location-based gambling restriction specifically for Australia. Rockstar has not publicly explained the decision, but many believe it is connected to Australia’s increasingly strict approach to online gambling regulation.

Although GTA Online‘s casino uses virtual chips rather than real-money wagering, the game’s currency can be purchased through Shark Cards, potentially drawing greater scrutiny. The move has sparked frustration throughout the community, with many Australian players questioning why the restriction has only been implemented now and expressing concern that similar limitations could affect GTA 6’s online component if it includes casino-style activities.

Further, gamers are surely going to find it upsetting that Rockstar hasn’t issued any form of official notification or warning that the feature would be removed in GTA Online, or offered any sort of explanation as to why gambling was taken down specifically for Australian players only.

GTA Online

Systems

Released

October 1, 2013

ESRB

m

Developer(s)

Rockstar North

Engine

rockstar advanced game engine, euphoria

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer