Australia has intensified its efforts against illegal gambling operations by ordering internet service providers (ISPs) to block an additional 10 websites. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has identified these sites—Zizobet, KingAUD, Lucky Vibe, Daily Spins, Gambiva, Hot Pokies Group, Pokies99, Betcoin, TenoBet, and Lightning-bet.com—as operating unlawfully in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
Among these, the ACMA pointed out that Lightning-bet.com is designed to mislead consumers with its resemblance to a licensed site named LightningBet. Since initiating ISP blocks in November 2019, the regulator has successfully blocked a total of 1,774 websites associated with illegal gambling and advertising.
Additionally, the ACMA reported that since ramping up its actions against gambling operators in 2017, more than 230 foreign gambling service providers have exited the Australian market. The regulator continues to remind players that these foreign companies cannot provide the same degree of protection as Australian-licensed operators. It underscores the importance for consumers to verify operators using ACMA's public registry of approved betting companies.
