Australia has intensified its efforts against unlawful gambling activities, with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) directing internet service providers (ISPs) to block an additional 10 unauthorized gambling websites. The sites affected include Zizobet, KingAUD, Lucky Vibe, Daily Spins, Gambiva, Hot Pokies Group, Pokies99, Betcoin, TenoBet, and Lightning-bet.com. These platforms have been identified by the ACMA as operating in direct violation of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
Significantly, the ACMA has pointed out that Lightning-bet.com deliberately mimics a licensed counterpart, LightningBet, potentially misleading users. Since beginning ISP blocks in November 2019, the ACMA has banned a total of 1,774 illegal gambling and advertising websites. Since 2017, when the agency heightened its enforcement against gambling operators, over 230 foreign gambling companies have exited the Australian market.
The ACMA continues to inform consumers that foreign gambling services do not offer the same protections that licensed Australian entities provide. As such, it emphasizes the importance for players to verify their operators using the ACMA’s public registry of authorized betting companies.
