ACMA issues request for eight illegal online gambling sites to be blocked
Australia’s media regulator says more than 1,100 illegal gambling sites and affiliates have now been barred since its first request was made in 2019
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has called on internet service providers (ISPs) to block eight illegal online gambling websites active in the market.
An investigation by the media regulator determined that the eight sites were found to be in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, after operating without the relevant licence.
The sites under scrutiny include JokaRoom, AUDPokies888, Aura Play and Instant Casino. Other sites to have fallen foul of the ACMA include Leon, Rich Papa, UUSpin and Wild Pokies.
The ACMA, which was formed in 2005, made its first blocking request to ISPs in November 2019. Since then, 1,154 illegal gambling and affiliate sites have been blocked from operating in the Australian market.
As per ACMA regulations, the promotion of unlicensed casinos and other gambling services is also banned in Australia.
A further 220 illegal gambling providers have withdrawn from the country since the ACMA began to enforce illegal online gambling rules in 2017.
This latest action marks the second time the authority has issued block requests on illegal gambling websites in the last four months.
In November, the ACMA urged ISPs to ban seven illegal websites, including RollXO, operated by Curaçao-licensed company DAMA N.V.
The parent company of RollXO has drawn attention from the ACMA previously, having had some of its other websites blocked at the request of the authority, including Wanted Win in July and Jackpoty last June.
The ACMA has also been known to take action against licensed operators when required.
The authority hit Tabcorp with a A$262,000 (£131,973) fine last November for “concerning” in-play betting violations across 69 tennis matches between April and October 2023.
Meanwhile, in October 2024, the ACMA confirmed that BetStop, Australia’s nationwide self-exclusion scheme, had seen more than 30,000 sign-ups in just over a year since its launch.