The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued a warning to two casino websites based in Curaçao, accusing them of violating Australia's Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). This act effectively bans iGaming operations within the country.
ACMA names two Curacao companies in latest public warnings
A notice has been issued against Luster N.V. and Dama N.V. for offering unregulated online games of chance in Australia, where only land-based casino gaming is legal. Regarding Luster N.V., the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has identified Eddy Vegas as a brand allegedly operated by the company. ACMA highlighted that this brand offered both chance-based and skill-based casino games. In a statement, ACMA noted: As the provider of Eddy Vegas services, Luster N.V. violated regulations by catering to customers physically present in Australia. Dama N.V. has been scrutinized for a wider range of brands, including Rebellion Casino, MoonWin, Lucky Friends, Golden Star Casino, N1 Bet, and SpinsUP. These brands similarly offered Australian players unlicensed gambling options, particularly online games of chance. ACMA detailed these violations: The services offered 'gambling services,' featuring casino-style games of chance or a mix of chance and skill, played for money by the customer (as defined under paragraph (e) in section 4 of the IGA). These warnings, part of a broader crackdown on unlicensed gambling companies, were issued in late 2024 and posted on the regulator's website on January 2, 2025.
Australian gambling regulator not letting up in site blocking efforts
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has achieved a major milestone by creating an extensive list of companies blocked with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) ban, significantly hindering their ability to target Australian citizens. Despite ongoing criticism regarding the effectiveness of this measure, ACMA has effectively investigated and blocked 1,117 websites found to be in violation of the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA). The regulatory body began imposing these blocks in November 2019, following initial warnings to companies. As a result, 220 companies voluntarily ceased their operations, requiring no additional enforcement from ACMA.
