ACMA urges ISPs to bar a further 11 offshore gambling sites

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ordered internet service providers (ISP) to block access to 11 illegal offshore gambling websites for regulatory breaches.

The ACMA has taken action after it found these sites breached the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The offending sites are Pokie Island, Rich Palms, Lucky Tiger Casino, Megaslot, Bitkingz, Parimatchwin, Casino Rocket, Montecryptos, Cabarino, Robin Roo and Jackpot Jill VIP.

Following the most recent round of blocking orders, there have now been 555 orders issued since the regulator’s initial request in November 2019.

Since Australia clamped down on offshore gambling and banned online casino in 2017, 160 illicit operators have withdrawn from the market.

In a statement, ACMA has said: “Website blocking 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

“The ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, its unlikely to have important customer protections. This means Australians who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money.”

The ACMA register contains a full list of approved sites.

This latest string of blocks comes after the ACMA last month issued orders to ISPs to block access to the thepokies.net, describing it as one of the most significant blocking requests to date.

At the time, ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said: “We have received more complaints about thepokies.net this year than any other illegal gambling website, and it is clearly doing a lot of harm to the Australian community.

“By blocking access to sites like this, we are sending a strong message that the ACMA can and will take action to stop illegal operators from targeting Australians.”

Meanwhile, the ACMA announced that it is to launch a new self-exclusion system shortly.