ACMA issues 12 blocking orders over illegal gambling sites

License: Pexels, Free to use, Author: Hugo Heimendinger

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued 12 new blocking orders targeting illegal offshore gambling websites. The sites affected include Tsars, Zen Casino, Zen Betting, Cleopatra Casino, Goodman Casino, Zoome Casino, Yabby Casino, Neon54, Rabona, 5Gringos, AlfCasino, and 1RED. These brands were found to be operating illegally in Australia, breaching the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 by lacking the necessary licenses and approvals.

ACMA has requested Australian internet service providers to block access to these sites. With these new blocking orders, a total of 785 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked since ACMA first made its blocking request in November 2019. Additionally, over 200 illegal services have voluntarily withdrawn from the Australian market since ACMA began enforcing stricter rules on illegal offshore gambling in 2017.

Last month, ACMA also ordered the blocking of Vave, Highway Casino, and Online Casinos Australia for similar violations of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Furthermore, ACMA issued a formal warning to Feral Holdings Limited for operating its CS:GO Roll website illegally in Australia. The site offered casino-style online games that involved the use of in-game coins, which could be converted into real money using third-party platforms. Feral Holdings withdrew the CS:GO Roll website from Australia after receiving the warning from ACMA.