The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is at it again. Citing violations of the country’s gambling framework, regulated under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, the regulator has now cracked down against five casino websites.
ACMA Carries on with Crackdown on Illegal Gambling
They have been served with Internet Service Provider blocks, which have become the watchdog’s staple in dealing with offshore websites. However, this approach poses serious challenges. For one, the websites that are being blocked are already prepared and have mirror domains they can syphon customers off to.
The latest websites include Slot Lounge, PokiesPro, Spinit, Betzillo, and FastSpin99, and they join the 1,322 illegal betting sites and affiliates that have been banned since November 2019. While ACMA has acknowledged that websites can quickly set up mirror alternatives, the regulator has not backed down from going after the guilty parties all the same.
ACMA has similarly urged players and consumers to be vigilant and mindful of where they gamble. The regulator reminded Australians that online casinos are not legal in Down Under and any website that claims otherwise is most likely fraudulent.
The regulator urged consumers to step forward and file complaints with ACMA through the automated portal. ACMA similarly offered a quick rundown of the risks that players may face if they do engage with unlicensed gambling sites.
Among the potential harms are the theft of personal and financial information, as well as the loss of money that has been deposited with offshore gambling sites.