The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is set to require local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to suspend more illegal online gambling sites.
Under the move of the regulator, eight more offshore gambling websites are set to be blocked, including – Ace Pokies, Enzo Casino, Planet 7 Oz, Nordicasino, Royal Sprinz, Times Square Casino, Spintopolis and Reeltastic. The ACMA also urged Australians who may use these websites to withdraw their money as soon as possible.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority initiated investigations into the websites’ operations after a number of complaints about the services. Some of the users’ complaints were filed because of poor player treatment and not allowing players to withdraw their winnings. The probe found the abovementioned websites to be operating in violation of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
Website blocking is one of the enforcement options that local authorities have as part of their strategies to protect Australian residents from gambling-related harm and illegal online gambling. The ACMA made its first requirest to ISPs to block some online gambling sites in November 2019, and since then, a total of 92 gambling websites that have been illegally operating in the country, have been suspended.
ACMA Wants to Raise Australian Public’s Awareness of Illegal Gambling Services
Since the competent authorities have started enforcing the new rules and regulations against illegal offshore gambling companies in 2017, more than 100 illegal gambling operators have exited the Australian market.
For the time being, website blocking comes as an essential part of local enforcement authorities’ options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling and the harm illegal offshore gambling could inflict. As the ACMA explained, website blocking provides the Authority with an opportunity to alert the public about the ban through the messages that pop up when players make an attempt to access the website. Apart from that, the ACMA provides more information about online gambling on its website, where there is also a register of licensed online betting services, so everyone is able to check whether their preferred gambling website is legal in Australia, or not. Users can also file a complaint regarding an illegal gambling operator.
As mentioned above, this has not been the first time when the ACMA turned to local Internet Service Providers with a request for them to block some offshore gambling websites that had been illegally offering their services to Australian customers. A month ago, the Authority moved to suspend 11 online gambling sites after receiving more than 35 complaints regarding their services.
The first blocking orders issued by the watchdog regarded Fair Go Casino and Emu Casino, with several other regulatory actions carried out since then. A further ten online gambling sites were suspended in May 2020.
- Author
Olivia Cole
