The ACMA has called for internet service providers throughout Australia to block numerous illegal offshore gambling and affiliate marketing websites, following a further investigation.
The sites in question include; Pokies Parlour, Ninja Spins, Pokies Online Casino, CasinoAus, Australian Casino Sites, and AU Online Casino, who the ACMA, upon an investigation, found to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
In addition to the website blocking request, the ACMA has reminded customers that “even if a service looks legitimate”, it is “unlikely” to have important customer protections. This means Australian-based players who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 426 illegal gambling websites have been blocked.
Over 160 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017.
Website blocking, says the ACMA, provides a valuable opportunity to alert the public to illegal gambling services through the messaging that appears when there is an attempt to access the site.