Games like Fortnite and Call of Duty continue to dominate the online gaming world, but there is growing enthusiasm in Australia for a more real-life experience.

Key points: Gel ball blasters are legal in Queensland and SA, but banned in NSW and Victoria

Gel ball blasters are legal in Queensland and SA, but banned in NSW and Victoria Game organiser says a gel ball game is less painful than paintball and much cheaper

Game organiser says a gel ball game is less painful than paintball and much cheaper More stores open in Queensland, with one Brisbane retailer saying he sells up to 400 gel blasters a week

Like paint ball, gel ball is a game of skirmish and its fast-growing popularity has game organisers and importers of the blasters struggling to keep up with demand.

But not everyone shares the enthusiasm, with gel ball blasters banned in some states and at least one importer facing serious charges.

It has not deterred the players. Thousands of people are joining an ever-expanding number of closed Facebook clubs.

Players take part in gel ball game at Heritage Park facility at Pimpama. ( ABC News: Dea Clark )

A fortnightly gel ball game on Queensland's Gold Coast attracts upwards of 150 people, which is up from 24 a year ago.

Game organiser Brent Alderton at the gel ball game Heritage Park facility at Pimpama. ( ABC News: Dea Clark )

Organiser Brent Alderton said the game was less painful than paintball and much cheaper.

Gel balls are used in blasters for the skirmish-style game. ( ABC News: Dea Clark )

"With paintball, you can have a couple of hours' play and go through a couple of hundred dollars easy," Mr Alderton said.

"Except for the initial purchase of a blaster, which is around $150 to $200, gel balls are cheap — for 10,000 it's $4 and that will last a full day."

For many, part of the thrill is the cosplay element and that means having realistic-looking battle gear and guns.

Two players ready for a game of gel ball at the Heritage Park facility at Pimpama. ( ABC News: Dea Clark )

Legal battle to sell the blasters

Peter Clark was selling gel ball blasters online last year, when Australian Border Force (ABF) seized one of his shipments.

After a costly legal battle, a Queensland court found in Mr Clark's favour, declaring them toys.

"The actual projectile the product fires is not considered ammunition under the law," Mr Clark said.

Queensland Police also examined the shipment, eventually deciding they were not firearms.

"The [1996] National Firearms Agreement wasn't written to ban people from owning toy guns … it was written to stop mass shootings," Mr Clark said.

Laws vary between the states and territories, with the blasters legal in Queensland and South Australia but banned in New South Wales and Victoria.

In other areas, the blasters fall into a grey area.

Criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said he was perplexed any authority would regard them as toys.

"[Gel gun blasters are] painted in camouflage like the weapons the armed forces use — I really think there's a lack of distinction between these type of replica weapons and the real thing," Mr Goldsworthy said.

"People may not understand the law and may go out with the weapons and therefore committing criminal offences perhaps they're not aware of."

A team called 'Brisbane Bruise Brothers' ready for a game of gel ball at the Heritage Park facility at Pimpama. ( ABC News: Dea Clark )

Importer faces 'serious indictment' charges

Sydney man Brad Towner, who is at the centre of a test case, had been importing and selling the blasters since 2010 with the full knowledge of New South Wales Police.

"They had a look at my toys, they took photographs, added them to my profile on me to say he's a legitimate toy gun seller and there's no problem at all," Mr Towner said.

But that changed in March 2017 when police executed a warrant on Mr Towner's business and charged him with five firearm offences, including possession of firearms and ammunition, and firearm dealing.

"These charges are classified as a 'serious indictment', meaning I can go to prison for five years to life," Mr Towner said.

"My legal team believe that this is a test case by the DPP [NSW Director of Public Prosecutions] to see if they can in fact ban anything toy-gun related."

Sydney businessman Brad Towner has been importing and selling Gel ball blasters since 2010. ( Supplied: Brad Towner )

While gel ball players await the outcome of the case, the game in New South Wales has gone underground, with events held in secret locations.

Others are travelling north across the border where the game's popularity has created a mini economic boom.

Stores open in Queensland

Mr Clark and his business partner have recently opened a retail store on the Gold Coast.

"At this point in time we can't import them quick enough — it doesn't matter how many containers we have backed up, they sell straight away," Mr Clark said.

Another retailer, Daniel Hennessy, said he sold up to 400 gel blasters a week from his Brisbane shop.

"I can't get enough stock in — it's growing very, very rapidly," Mr Hennessy said.

"It's just an infectious hobby — I have one bloke come in and five blokes come back."

Meanwhile, Mr Towner said he had no choice but to move his life and business north.

"I'm in the process of setting up in Brisbane and I'm hoping to be rock-and-roll ready for Christmas," he said.