ACMA censures nine sites over illegal gambling violations
Australian communications watchdog slaps banning orders on nine sites for offering unlicensed internet gambling
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ordered Australian internet service providers (ISP) to block access to nine illegal offshore gambling websites for regulatory breaches and violations of the Australian Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
Sites named by the ACMA include Stay Casino, Bambet, Dazard Casino, Level Up Casino, Rocketplay Casino, Wild Tornado Casino, Cobra Casino, Cobra Bet, Casinority and Pokies Lab.
This latest series of blocking orders brings the total banning orders issued since the ACMA began prosecuting operators in November 2019 up to 481.
As an indirect result of actions taken by the ACMA, 160 illegal services have pulled themselves out of the Australian market since the regulator cracked down on offshore gambling with new illegal offshore gambling regulations in 2017.
Under the powers given in November 2019, the ACMA can investigate suspect sites and refer those in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act to internet service providers to be blocked.
The measures were the final part of a part of a series of interactive gambling laws recommended by former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell in 2015.
The Australian government’s estimates suggest that around A$400m is spent annually by Australians on illegal gambling, accounting for around $100m in lost tax revenue each year.
This latest string of blocks comes after last month; the ACMA issued orders to halt access to six sites at the end of March and a further 12 at the end of February.