ACMA goes after five more unlicensed gambling domains

• ACMA has issued a new set of bans against unregulated gambling sites
• The total number of blocked services has reached 1,279
• Online casino regulation may be a more efficient way to turf out these websites

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued a new Internet Service Provider (ISP) blocking order against five domains that the regulator says have been operating without a license in the country. The websites that have been blocked in the latest move are as follows:

• Best Aussie Pokies
• winspirit.online
• win-spirit.online
• winspirit.team
• winspirit1.com

They are said to have been targeting Australian customers in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Website blocking is ACMA’s most reliable tool against the offshore gambling market, and the regulator has already added 1,279 operator and affiliate websites to its blocking list since it started applying the measure in November 2019.

However, thousands of others are suspected of targeting the Australian market, with mirror domains easily set up by casinos that simply shift around their offers in the matter of days, if not sooner. Commenting on the latest blocking action, Casino Guru's Head of Casino Research, Matej Novota, had this to add:

"Judging by the structure of these blocked domains, they appear fully prepared for enforcement actions like blocking. Their strategy is built around evasion. As soon as one domain is blocked, another takes its place. While ACMA’s efforts highlight a strong regulatory stance, domain blocking in itself is a temporary fix at best. Without broader international cooperation, payment blocking, or more advanced technical countermeasures, these actions remain largely symbolic. The operators aren’t deterred; they adapt. A more holistic and proactive strategy is needed to make a real impact."

While Australia has been firmly opposed to expanding its gambling landscape to feature online casinos, some of its regional neighbors have thought things through and decided to act differently. New Zealand, for example, is now looking to pass legislation that allows up to 15 online casinos to set up shop in the country.

According to Jarrod True, a legal expert on gambling law in New Zealand, this measure should significantly diminish the clout of the offshore gambling market in the country.

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