The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ramped up its campaign against illegal gambling operations, directing internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to 12 additional unlicensed gambling and affiliate marketing websites. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to uphold the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, following investigations that revealed these sites were operating unlawfully.
The newly affected sites include 7Signs, ChromaBet, Donbet, Duospin, Freshbet, Slots Gem, Jacks Club, Lucky Start, Pointsbetz.com, Spinrise, Vinyl Casino, and Wildsino. Notably, Pointsbetz.com has been flagged for mimicking the branding of the licensed PointsBet service, a tactic often employed by illegal operators to mislead consumers and exploit the trust typically associated with legitimate platforms.
Since November 2019, the ACMA has blocked a total of 1,751 illegal gambling and affiliate marketing websites, and over 230 unlicensed gambling services have exited the Australian market since enforcement began in 2017. Earlier this year, the authority had also ordered ISPs to block eight illegal gambling sites, including Lucky Mate, Vegastars, and Wombet, bringing the total blocked sites at that point to 1,518.
The regulator emphasizes that while illegal gambling sites may seem legitimate, they frequently lack vital consumer protections, exposing bettors to potential financial losses and vulnerabilities in disputes.
This recent blocking initiative underscores Australia’s proactive approach to curb access to unauthorized offshore gambling websites. However, the effectiveness of such site-blocking initiatives has its limitations, as banned sites can re-emerge on new domains. Illegal operators are adept at reaching Australian players through social media and affiliate marketing on streaming platforms like Kick and TikTok, where casino influencer content can proliferate at low cost and often evade regulatory oversight.
According to a 2025 report by H2 Gambling Capital, commissioned by Responsible Wagering Australia, Australians are estimated to lose AU$3.9 billion ($2.7 billion) annually to illegal sites, with the channelization percentage decreasing from 74% in 2021 to 64% currently.
The enforcement landscape is further complicated by upcoming advertising restrictions announced by the Albanese government, set to take effect in January 2027, which will impose caps and bans on advertising across TV, radio, and online platforms. These measures could undermine one of the remaining advantages that licensed operators have over illegal offshore competitors. This evolving scenario places additional pressure on compliance teams, payment service providers, and media partners to closely examine their promotional activities and associations with offshore gambling operations.
