Australian regulator investigating Cocos island websites
Island registered gambling domains targeting Australian citizens illegally
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has confirmed that it is investigating several unlicensed egaming domains registered in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands for breaches of the Interactive Gambling Act (2001).
A spokesperson for the ACMA said: “While we don’t comment on specific services that are being investigated, we can confirm that we are considering a number of sites whose domain names are registered in the Cocos Islands that have been brought to our attention.”
The Cocos Islands are an external Australian territory situated in the Indian Ocean. Despite being under the regulation and control of Australia, the islands have their own unique internet country code (cc).
Under the Interactive Gambling Act, unlicensed regulated egaming services such as online betting and gaming without a licence issued by an Australian state or territory are prohibited.
For there to be a breach of the act, the egaming service must have an ‘Australian-customer link’.i.e. an individual physically present in Australia is capably of becoming a customer of the service.
In an interview with the Australian news network ABC a spokesperson for the ACMA said: “When deciding if a site should be investigated, the ACMA considers a number of factors, including whether the service being provided may be a prohibited or unlicensed service … and whether it may have an Australian-customer link,”
Australian MP Andrew Wilkie has called on the Australian government to immediately close down these unlicensed sites. Wilkie told ABC: “The Federal Government must take immediate action to shut down these sites and stop them offering illegal services to Australian customers.”
Earlier this year, bitcoin gambling site JustBet was investigated by the ACMA over alleged targeting of Australian citizens. The website, which was registered with the Christmas Island Domain Authority but based in central America was later shut down following the ACMA enquiries.
It later reopened with a Colombian URL (.co) and no longer accepts bets from Australian customers.