ACMA blocks five more illegal gambling sites

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has continued to pressure the illegal gambling sector by issuing more Internet Service Providers (ISPs) bans to non-compliant parties.

The regulator is using the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 as the basis of its enforcement action and has gone after five services that are in direct breach of the legislation. The latest operators listed on ACMA’s website include RoyalReels, SlotsGallery, Slotastic, RickyCasino, and Reef Reels.

All five services join the regulator’s rather long list of 823 illegal gambling websites that have been blocked since the measure was first introduced back in 2017. ACMA’s action has also prompted more than 200 operators to leave the country voluntarily or risk overseas action by the regulator.

ACMA has also been reaching out to regulators internationally, including to the government of Curacao, asking of officials to step in and take a harder look at the industry and gambling licensees that are targeting Australian citizens without any legal right to do so.

The regulator has reminded consumers that they are not protected under Australian law if they choose to play with offshore gambling websites. The problem, though, is not just down to consumers who are opting to play into illegal sites.

It also has to do with a partial or complete lack of awareness of what gambling sites are illegal. When it comes to online casinos, which are the operators that most commonly target Australian players, there is not a single regulated entity.

Australia only regulates interactive sports wagering, which means that all online casinos are illegal. The regulator has been trying to improve things by methodically going after the offenders. In the past year alone, the watchdog has banned more than 220 websites, and it continues to add to a rather long list of offenders.

ACMA has also gone after suppliers who provide their games to illegal gambling websites as well, broadening the scope of its enforcement action. The regulator has similarly gone after more innovative websites trying to use alternate means to flog illegal gambling, such as a website that used Counter-Strike: Global Offensive game skins as currency.

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