ACMA Continues to Restrict Gambling Websites

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) continues to deliver blocking orders against illegal websites. The latest blocking order is against two brands specifically, to wit, Casea and Crown96, both of which have been deemed to be in breach of the country’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001. ACMA Issues More Blocks Against Illegal Gambling Websites ACMA has been expanding its efforts to prevent illegal gambling websites from targeting citizens in Australia, with the regulator keeping a manually maintained list of blocked websites, with the help of ISPs. Presently, the list includes 1,788 illegal gambling and affiliate websites, with 230 services leaving the country voluntarily after ACMA began taking action in 2017. However, critics of this approach have said that some countries have banned hundreds of thousands of websites and still face illegal gambling domains targeting them. The issue with this approach is that once a domain is shuttered, mirror domains can be reintroduced in a bid to continue providing services to Australian citizens. ACMA has urged vigilance and restraint on the part of consumers, but the regulator has little to offer as an alternative, as online casinos in Australia are only available illegally. This means that players who wish to play online must entrust their money with offshore operators, which are criticized as unsafe by the regulator. The lack of domestic, licensed options, however, means that illegal gambling websites have a monopoly on the market, with ACMA left to play catch-up as it seeks to enforce the rules. Previously, ACMA issued a $ 1.9-million fine against Tabcorp, citing breaches of advertising rules, with the company alleged to have texted promotional messages to self-excluded players. Apart from targeting operators with blocks and fines, the regulator has also gone after influencers online, warning them against pushing illegal gambling content through their clout and recognizability.