ACMA issues new blocks against offshore gambling sites

• ACMA goes after two offshore casino sites
• The regulator's list now features 1,178 entities
• ACMA is hoping to collaborate with global regulators to limit the sector's clout in the country

ACMA has issued a new limited enforcement action against the offshore gambling sector in Australia. The Australian Media and Communications Authority has been working on singling out offshore casino and sports betting sites that have continued to target Australian customers despite a prohibition to do so without a relevant license to offer games of chance.

ACMA goes after two more operators in the latest move

In the latest enforcement action in which the regulator is upholding the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, Crown Slots and Billy Billion have been targeted as the latest brands to be added to the regulator’s list of blocked websites. Blocking is carried out with the help of internet service providers, and hence the measure has become known as ISP blocking.

Presently, ACMA runs a long list of such websites, with some 1,178 entities added to the list since November 2019. This has been done through a case-by-case approach whereby the regulator has reviewed individual websites and issued a request for an ISP block against each entity that it had found to be in breach of local gambling laws.

The process, although lengthy and criticized as inefficient, has already seen more than 1,000 websites blocked, including suppliers and affiliates. No small feat has to do with ACMA also using the measure to make 220 prominent websites that were operating without a license to also leave the country in fear of the regulator reaching to overseas regulating bodies.

Global collaboration needed to address offshore casino sector

Similarly, ACMA has been actively trying to work with counterparts from Curacao and specifically the gambling regulator, urging for stricter oversight over websites that continue to target Australians without the necessary license to do so.

Earlier this year, ACAM issued a similar enforcement action against eight websites. The list of blocked services has been growing at a consistent pace but for it to be effective, international collaboration may be necessary. In the meantime, offshore websites continue moving around and marketing to Australian players.

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