ACMA Enforces Gambling Laws with Offshore Warnings

ACMA issued formal warnings to offshore gambling companies for unlicensed services breaching the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

Key Points

• ACMA delivered three formal warnings to offshore gambling operators.
• Investigations uncovered unlicensed casino and betting services for Australians.
• The warnings cite breaches of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

Australia’s communications regulator issued three formal warnings after concluding regulatory investigations. The Australian Communications and Media Authority released notices naming BrightStar Digital and NovaForge. Each notice references enforcement under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

ACMA Issues Warnings Over Illegal Offshore Gambling Websites Targeting Australians

The warnings involve online casino and betting brands from the Autonomous Island of Anjouan.  This territory forms part of the Union of Comoros. ACMA found BrightStar Digital breached subsection 15(2A) of the IGA. The breach involved offering prohibited interactive gambling services to Australian customers. The activity occurred through the Pokienations website. Casino-style games played for money formed part of the service.

An Australian customer link existed, as users remained present in Australia. Two further warnings followed investigations into NovaForge operations. These investigations started in September 2025 and October 2025. ACMA confirmed NovaForge ran casino-style and betting websites without licences. The sites included Abu King, BetAlice, Nova Jackpot, QuickWin and Vegasino.

Regulatory Action Taken Against Unauthorised Offshore Gambling Services

The services breached subsection 15(2A) and subsection 15AA(3) of the IGA. Subsection 15AA(3) restricts regulated interactive gambling without authorisation. Across all investigations, ACMA identified casino games of chance and in-play betting. Australian users accessed these services through online platforms. As a result, ACMA issued formal warnings under section 64A of the IGA. The regulator classed these matters as civil penalty provisions. This action continues ACMA efforts against offshore gambling activity.

Last week, ACMA blocked 133 illegal gambling websites during Q4 2025. The regulator also completed 23 investigations finding 69 breaches. Separately, ACMA closed six investigations involving licensed operators. These cases identified BetStop self-exclusion breaches with penalties and remedial directions.