ACMA goes after more illegal gambling websites

• ACMA has banned eight new websites that it found out to be breaching the country’s gambling laws
• The regulator ordered ISP blocks for the operators, pushing the total number of restricted websites to 1,564 operators and affiliates since November 2019
• Rogue operators have been targeting vulnerable Australian consumers registered with BetStop, ACMA flagged earlier

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will pursue a tougher stance against the illegal gambling market, with the regulator providing an update to its list of Internet Service Provider-blocked websites.

In an official update on its website on Wednesday, March 18, ACMA added eight new domains to its list of exclusions. The total number of restricted websites has now reached 1,564 operators and affiliates.

ACMA first started issuing such requests to ISPs in November 2019, and has continued to do so. 225 prominent international brands have left voluntarily, fearing wider repercussions.

In a statement, the regulator said: "The ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, it’s unlikely to have important customer protections. This means Australians who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money. You can check if a wagering service is licensed to operate in Australia on our register."

ACMA has continued to lambast the offshore sector through enforcement action, but also by raising awareness among lawmakers by practices such as targeting vulnerable consumers in the country.

Specifically, ACMA said that rogue operators are targeting vulnerable users on BetStop, the country’s self-exclusion program, which has been adding steadily to its numbers of registered players who experience some vulnerability.

ACMA will continue to restrict the access of operators it considers to be operating without a license, but the process it follows is resource-intensive, and usually takes a while to validate whether a website is indeed breaching local laws.

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