ACMA Blocks 6 More Wagering Sites in Australia

Reports from the Southern parts of the globe tell how the Aussie gambling regulator continues its crackdown on black-market gambling. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has the power to block illegal operators by instructing internet service providers (ISPs) to ban their sites.

The latest list of offenders who breached the country’s Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 joins 420 others blocked in the past. ACMA first started with these block requests in November 2019.

 Close, But No Cigar

From 24 March 2022, players who wish to access six gambling and affiliate platforms will find nothing but an error message. The blocked sites include Pokies Parlour, Ninja Spins, Pokies Online Casino, CasinoAus, Australian Casino Sites, and AU Online Casino. According to the authority, investigations found the six sites in contravention of the Interactive Gambling Act.

Since the ACMA set out to enforce regulatory standards in 2017, more than 160 illegal services withdrew from the market. Some illegal operators are resilient, and the ACMA continues to clamp down on these sites as well as affiliate sites. The ACMA now lists 426 blocked operators on their website.

Earlier this year, 12 platforms had their sites shut down in the country’s fight against black-market gambling.

 The Player’s Best Interest

Website blocking is one of the ways ACMA enforces its responsibility to protect Australian players, and the authority believes it is a highly effective way of creating awareness of unlicensed operators. The ACMA reminds punters that even highly polished sites that look legitimate could be illegal. Punters run the risk, among others, of losing their money when gambling with unlicensed offshore platforms.

ACMA offers a list of licensed interactive wagering services available to Aussie citizens and a whistleblowing process. Consumers have access to these on the ACMA website, including an alphabetical list of blocked sites.

According to a report published by the ACMA, over 10% of Australians wagered online between January and June 2021. Of these gamblers, 5% admitted to using offshore websites, indicating a slight increase in black-market activity.

 Are the ACMA’s Efforts in Vain?

The actions of the ACMA in the past three years make it clear that every illegal operator has a target on their back and, in due time, their site will show an error message. Sanctions against affiliate sites that promote unlicensed platforms continue as the authority leaves no stone unturned.

While rogue operators continuously try to draw in Aussie gamblers, the ACMA chips away at the black market in their country. Unfortunately, the continent’s punters may continue to seek alternatives offshore with a lack of licensing options.