The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) appears to be pursuing its mandate with enthusiasm and focus as it continues to restrict access to offshore gambling in Australia. Offshore gambling operators had flourished unchecked for years in the country before the ACMA resolved to deal with their presence.
The latest request from the ACMA to internet service providers (ISPs) is to suspend access to five new offshore websites, namely, Fight Club, Kim Vegas, Queenspins, Yoju Casino, and Spin Bit.
These brands were found to violate the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, legislation that forbids providing iGaming services to Australian nationals within the nation’s territory without appropriate licensing and approval. Australia currently has no online casinos that are legally permitted to operate.
Tips and Results
The ACMA’s latest action was prompted by numerous complaints that it received regarding the aforementioned websites that alleged they had been targeting customers. The watchdog subsequently stepped in and made its suspension request to the relevant ISPs.
The regulator sent out a warning in an official statement, saying,
“We are reminding people that even if a gambling service looks legitimate, it is unlikely to have important customer protections; this means Australians who use illegal gambling sites risk losing their money.”
On the Warpath
The ACMA’s crusade against offshore gambling websites commenced in 2019, and since then, the watchdog has blacklisted 324 websites with imposed restrictions. The regulator’s ruthless approach includes tactics like lodging formal complaints with overseas licensing authorities and has yielded favourable results, as demonstrated by the 147 unlicensed services that have voluntarily left the Australian market, rather than enduring suspension.
