Summary
- In October, there were 97 complaints and 24 inquiries.
- November: 68 complaints and 24 inquiries
- In December, there were 78 complaints and 10 inquiries.
The Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA), responsible for monitoring and regulating illegal iGaming websites, has released its report for the fourth quarter of the year.
ACMA breaks down enforcement action in the final quarter of 2024
The regulator reported receiving 301 inquiries and complaints, determining that 243 of them were valid. This accounted for 85% of the total and warranted further investigation and action under the Interactive Gambling Act, which delineates what types of games of chance and betting products companies can offer within the country. The regulator provided a detailed account of the issues addressed since October, which includes the following: ACMA conducted investigations into 16 gambling websites, resulting in eight reviews for violations of the Interactive Gambling Act. One instance revealed that 10 websites offered Australians interactive gambling, specifically casino games of chance. Additionally, five companies faced sanctions for offering unlicensed interactive gambling services to Australian customers. One website was penalized for advertising a prohibited or unlicensed service, although ACMA did not disclose specifics about this case. Beyond identifying breaches, ACMA issued six formal warnings, some directed at the same service. For example, Dama N.V. received warnings about prohibited gambling sites like RollXO, Lucky Ones, SpinsUP, Rebellion Casino, MoonWin, Lucky Friends, Golden Star Casino, and N1 Bet. FBC BV confronted issues over FreeBitco.in, and Square Media Ltd was cautioned regarding the unregulated service Betsquare. Luster NV was warned about Eddy Vegas.
ACMA vows to continue protecting consumers by flagging aberrant behavior
During the period reviewed by the regulator, from October to December, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issued a total of 75 blocks against individual websites. These Internet Service Provider (ISP) blocks are considered an effective tool in ACMA's efforts to combat the illegal gambling sector. Over the past several years, ACMA has been systematically targeting illegal websites, resulting in the blocking of more than 1,000 sites. The complete list of blocked services is available, with websites organized both alphabetically and numerically. Additionally, ACMA reported 75 URLs to family-friendly service providers to help protect vulnerable individuals from potentially harmful gambling products.
