ACMA Blocks Four More Illegal Gambling Sites in Ongoing Crackdown

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ordered the internet service providers (ISPs) in Australia to block four illegal online gambling sites.

After investigation, the ACMA found Megabet Prize, Mega Medusa, TF2Royal, and Casino Intense to be operating in breach of the Australia Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). 

ACMA’s Regulatory Authority and ISP Blocking Powers

Under the country’s Telecommunications Act 1997, the regulator is permitted to ask internet service providers to block access to sites, with the ultimate aim of disrupting illegal online content.

The breaches under the IGA include:

• Providing prohibited interactive gambling services to customers in Australia (online casinos, slots, in-play online sports betting).
• Providing a regulated interactive gambling service to customers in the country without a valid Australian license.
• Publishing advertisements for services that are in breach of the above. 

Services in breach of the IGA have been the targets of blocking requests since the ACMA began using this enforcement tool in November 2019. 

In a December 2024 update, the ACMA revealed it had blocked “over 1,117” websites. This week’s update suggests just under 100 additional sites have been blocked in the four months since. 

It also adds that approximately 220 illegal services have been withdrawn from the Australian market since the ACMA was granted the power to enforce illegal online gambling rules in 2017. 

“Even if a service looks legitimate, it’s unlikely to have important consumer protections,” warns the ACMA. “This means Australians who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money.” 

Red Flags for the ACMA: Missing Gambling Licenses, Skin Betting, and Minimal Consumer Protections

CasinoBeats found the following:

• Megabet Prize has closed, and the website is no longer in existence.
• Casino Intense is an online casino licensed in Curacao. No geoblockers are in place. 
• Mega Medusa is also licensed in Curacao, but geoblocks jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom. 
• TF2Royal has no license and operates solely using skins. 

Team Fortress 2 is a game developed by Valve. The website allows users to deposit skins to wager on games such as CoinFlip and Roulette. 

The online casino’s Terms of Service span four paragraphs, and the “Item refunds” section strongly vindicates the ACMA’s suggestion that these sites are “unlikely to have important consumer protections.” 

The section reads, verbatim: “We do not refund any items that enters any game, if your items did not enter the game, contact our support. If you experienced any bug, you have 12 hours to contact our support, otherwise we cannot guarantee that bot will have your items.”

It continues: “If you are winner of any game, we highly recommend to accept your withdraw items immadiately or max in few minutes. If you will store your winnings/items in a bot, we cannot guarantee it will be there after some hours.”