ACMA cracks down on major illegal gambling website serving Australians
Media regulator requests ISPs block thepokies.net, a site that has taken “tens of millions of dollars” from players
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has told internet service providers (ISPs) to block illegal site thepokies.net from targeting citizens of Australia.
The ACMA has said that the site has been operating online casino games, which are prohibited by the country’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The regulator added that thepokies.net is “one of the most significant websites to be blocked” since the ACMA started using the regulatory tool in 2019 to get ISPs to block illegal sites.
It went on to say that the site has around 30,000 Australian visitors each month on mobile and desktop and that payments to the site “run into the tens of millions of dollars”.
Several complaints were made against the site from players saying they had lost a significant amount of money, as well as the site not honouring deposits and winnings.
ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said: “We have received more complaints about thepokies.net this year than any other illegal gambling website, and it is clearly doing a lot of harm to the Australian community.
“By blocking access to sites like this, we are sending a strong message that the ACMA can and will take action to stop illegal operators from targeting Australians.”
Website blocking is just one part of the regulator’s strategy to clamp down on illegal gambling. Other methods include industry engagement, targeted enforcement and public education.
In addition to thepokies.net, the ACMA has also issued blocking orders on Azure Hand, Abo Casino, Betroom, 777Bay, Space Lilly, Jet Casino, Katsu Bet and Winz.
Over 160 illegal sites have pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new offshore gambling rules that were introduced five years ago.