On 18 March, the Australian Communications and Media Authority revealed it had requested that internet service providers block eight more sites that were found to be in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Among the blocked sites are MyStake, Great Win, The Dog House 2 Slot, C***spin, RetroBet, Frumzi, Viperwin, and Oh My Spins.
What the New Blocking Round Shows
This latest action is notable because the list of blocked resources is not limited to casino brand names. ACMA’s framework extends to promotional and affiliate-facing web properties, in addition to the gambling operators. In other words, the regulator’s broader approach allows blocking not just prohibited gambling services, but also unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services and sites that promote them.
According to ACMA, they are continuing their ongoing consumer protection activities. The regulator is relying on website blocking as an enforcement tool against offshore supply that is still available to Australians without the protections in place for them.
The Bigger Enforcement Picture
As ACMA states, 1,564 illegal gambling and affiliate sites have been blocked since they made their first blocking request in November 2019. The regulator also notes that over 225 illegal services have pulled out of the Australian market since stricter regulations on online gambling began in 2017. What follows from these stats is that the action taken by ACMA is an ongoing process.
The regulator keeps warning consumers that a site may look professional and legitimate, but it still may lack the protections available through licensed services. The ACMA’s message is simple: if Australians choose to do business with illegal operators and something goes wrong, their options for recovery or assistance will be limited. For that reason, the regulator continues to direct users to its register of licensed wagering services.
The larger point is that Australia is still dealing with illegal online gambling as an enforcement problem. The blocking of eight more domains is unlikely to stop offshore operations, but the increasing numbers suggest that ACMA is building up the pressure. Therefore, operators, affiliates, and traffic partners may want to be cautious, as in Australia, even visibility and promotion around unlicensed supply can lead to compliance risks.
