ACMA requests Australian internet service providers to block eight illegal gambling sites
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested internet service providers (ISPs) in the country to block eight more illegal gambling websites after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites that the ACMA has asked to block include Jogi Casino, Dundee Slots, Lucky Hunter, Lucky Wins, Lukki Casino, Spin Fever, Clubhouse Casino, and Winport Casino. The authority says that website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal gambling services.
This action can be taken if a service is providing prohibited interactive gambling services to customers in Australia (such as online casinos, online slot machines, and services that allow in-play online sports betting).
The authority can also move to block a website if it is providing an unlicensed regulated interactive gambling service to customers in Australia (such as online betting services that don’t have a valid Australian license), or if the website is publishing ads for prohibited interactive gambling services or unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services in Australia.
ACMA informs that since it made its first blocking request in November 2019, 975 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing illegal offshore gambling rules.
The ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, it is unlikely to have important consumer protections. “This means our laws can’t help if something goes wrong, like if the service provider withholds winnings,” it warns. Australians can check if a wagering service is licensed to operate in Australia on ACMA’s register.