ACMA Strengthens Crackdown on Illegal Online Gambling Websites in Australia

Key Points

• The Aussie authorities are cracking down even harder on online gambling sites that break the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and this time they’re going after even more of them.
• Major offshore operators who think they can get away with luring Aussies to their unlicensed platforms have already seen hundreds of their sites shut down.
• Users are warned of financial risks and the lack of protection on illegal gambling sites.

Australian internet service providers received orders from the Australian Communications and Media Authority to block websites breaching the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Ongoing regulatory crackdowns include this latest move, which aims to limit unlicensed gambling service access and prevent Australian consumer financial harm.

Multiple Offshore Gambling Platforms Face New Blocking Orders

The blocked websites now include Crown Slots and Billy Billion, plus platforms identified as C***spin, Frumzi, Great Win, MyStake, Oh My Spins, RetroBet, The Dog House 2 Slot and Viperwin. Continued investigations reveal these offshore operators are targeting Australian users without proper licensing or regulatory compliance. Previous enforcement rounds blocked eight gambling websites such as JokaRoom, AUDPokies888 and Wild Pokies through similar regulatory actions. The authority uses website blocking among various strategies to combat illegal gambling activity throughout the Australian market. Since November 2019’s first blocking request, total restrictions cover between 1,178 and 1,564 illegal gambling and affiliate websites in Australia. Strengthened rules from 2017 have driven approximately 220 to more than 225 illegal gambling services away from the Australian market.

Market Exits Increase Following 2017 Enforcement Measures

The regulator warns that illegal gambling websites masquerade as legitimate services while lacking the Australian law’s required consumer safeguards completely. Financial loss, winning disputes and minimal redress avenues await users who encounter problems with these unregulated platforms. Key player protections remain absent from unlicensed platforms, creating risks of fund losses with minimal recourse when issues occur. A public register of licensed wagering services lets users verify operator authorisation for Australian gambling services through the authority’s resources.

The website guides spotting an illegal gambling site, protection tips for staying away from unlicensed services & tools to report any dodgy operators you think are breaking the rules. Vigilance is still really important when signing up to online betting sites, and the regulator wants to hear from you if you suspect something fishy is going on. In fact, enforcement efforts are all about cutting off rogue offshore operators and building a safer, more transparent betting scene across the country, they’re saying. Lately, the regulators have been cracking down; they even looked into Network Ten in Sydney over alleged breaches of gambling ad rules during the 2024 Aussie F1 Grand Prix.