Summary
- The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested that internet service providers in Australia block access to four illegal online gambling sites.
- The Media Authority continues to oversee the market by restricting access to illegal online gambling operators.
- The number of illegal websites blocked online has now exceeded 1,200.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the country's media regulatory body, announced that it has broadened its list of illegal online gambling websites that are blocked.
Investigation discovers illegal gambling operators
On Tuesday, the Authority announced that after conducting an investigation, it found that several websites were violating the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 by offering their services unlawfully. Consequently, the ACMA requested Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to these illegal online gambling platforms. In a statement, the regulatory body confirmed that the access restriction affected four websites in total. The media regulatory authority in Australia also warned consumers that some websites might seem legitimate but could be operating without the necessary licenses. According to ACMA, this situation exposes customers to the risk of losing their money.
ACMA continues to grow its block list
The examination of the online gambling industry started in 2017 when the country implemented new regulations for iGaming. Following these changes, around 220 illegal operators voluntarily left the nation's regulated gambling market. However, many others continue to appeal to Australian players with attractive offers despite lacking the necessary licenses. This is why the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) consistently monitors the market and takes action against unauthorized online gambling websites. The most recent blocking request has further increased the number of illegal gambling and affiliate sites that have been blocked. In November 2019, ACMA made its first request to block illegal online gambling websites. Since then, the list of blocked operators has exceeded 1,200. In March, the Authority submitted another request to block offshore gambling websites, asking Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to restrict access to two sites. Prior to that, in February, the media Authority imposed ISP blocks on yet another batch of offshore gambling websites.
