After ruling that three more offshore gambling sites were operating illegally, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has asked for them to be blocked.
ACMA has flagged A Big Candy Casino, Jackpoty Casino and John Vegas Casino as violating the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Now, the regulator has requested that Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs), block each website.
Three websites provide players with online casino games. Online gambling operators in Australia are required to hold the appropriate licence.
ACMA reminds consumers that even though a service may appear legitimate, there are likely to be few important protections for customers,” ACMA stated. This means Australians using illegal gambling services are at risk of losing their money.
Since 2019, almost 1,000 online gambling sites have been blocked
The blocking of websites is just one option to help protect Australians from illegal gambling online.
ACMA has blocked 995 websites that are illegal gambling or affiliates since November 2019. The list is growing and the most recent additions are A Big Candy Casino, Jackpoty, John Vegas Casino.
Since ACMA started enforcing the illegal offshore gambling laws in 2017, over 220 services illegal have left Australia.
The blocking of websites is not only for operators who do not have the right licence. ACMA may also block websites that offer games which are not allowed in Australia, such as in-play betting and online slot machines.
ACMA Blocking Orders Exceed 30 by 2024
ACMA issued 31 requests for blocking this year against websites it believes are illegally running online gambling.
The regulator flagged eight websites last month. All of the following sites were found to be in violation: Jogi Casinos, Dundee Slots, Lucky Hunter, Lucky Wins, Lukki Casino, Spin Fever, Clubhouse Casino, and Winport Casino.
ACMA sounded eight more sites in March. The ACMA has issued blocking orders for Lucky7even 50 Crowns Rockwin Bitdreams Mr Pacho Casino Infinity Zota Bet Spicyjackpots.
ACMA singled out twelve other websites in February. Playzilla, Wazamba and Zet Casino are among the 12 websites that were singled out by ACMA in February.
ACMA isn’t just a threat to smaller brands. ACMA slammed Hillside, Bet365, Sportsbet, Hillside-owned Ladbrokes and Neds for breaking in-play betting regulations.
ACMA originally said that the operators had violated interactive gambling laws by using Fast/Quick code to facilitate sports betting in-play. In-play sports betting is prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001, except for a few exceptions.
After initial contact with ACMA, it was later determined that the brands had complied to rules. It decided not to take any further action.
