ACMA issues ISP blocks against 12 gambling websites

• The media watchdog has continued to request enforcement action against individual operators in Australia
• The companies are based offshore and therefore not eligible to operate locally, but they do target Australians all the same
• ACMA’s approach has come under criticism as to its overall effectiveness, but the regulator has continued pushing forward with it

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is not slowing down even though the year’s end is upon us.

The regulator has issued new enforcement action against 12 individual gambling websites, which the regulator says have been offering games of chance and sports gambling products without a license.

ACMA continues pressure on the illegal gambling sector

Online casinos are prohibited in Australia, with lawmakers reluctant to legalize them at a time of increased pressure from the private sector. Among the brands mentioned are Abu King, BetAlice, Dragon Slots, Nova Jackpot, Power Up Casino, Roby Casino, and others.

The latest move has pushed the total number of blocked websites to over 1,455, with the regulator on the job since November 2019, when it introduced the blacklist. While there are thousands of potentially more websites operating and targeting Australia illegally, the regulator has stuck to its labor-intensive approach.

The blacklist did do some good, chasing away 220 illegal services run by prominent operators several years back. ACMA continues to identify websites individually and single them out as it carries on its operations.

At the same time, Australia has been working to proactively protect consumers from gambling-related harm. The national self-exclusion program, BetStop, has been working to actively limit harm by offering local gamblers an exclusion from regulated websites.

However, unlicensed and offshore operators are not subject to these regulations, and many are in fact purposefully targeting self-excluded and vulnerable consumers.

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