ACMA to block eight more offshore gambling websites

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block a further eight offshore gambling websites.

The authority said Planet 7 Oz, Ace Pokies, Nordicasino, Reeltastic, Spintropolis, Enzo Casino, Times Square Casino and Royal Spinz are operating illegally in the country and must therefore be blocked.

Numerous complaints about the sites had been received, ACMA said, including that they had been withholding winnings and treating players poorly.

In response to these complaints, it carried out a series of investigations and found that the sites had been operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

ACMA is authorised to request ISPs to block access to any websites of concern in order to help protect consumers. Since the watchdog made its first blocking request in November 2019, some 92 websites have been blocked.

In addition, ACMA advised Australian consumers using any of these websites to withdraw their money immediately.

“Over 100 illegal services have pulled out of the Australian market since we started enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017,” ACMA said.

“Website blocking provides a valuable opportunity to alert the public to illegal gambling services though the messaging that appears when there is an attempt to access the site.”

The latest order comes after ACMA last month also requested ISPs to block access to another 11 websites. The sites affected were Happy Hugo, Mucho Vegas Casino, Kahuna Casino, Rich Casino, Box 24 Casino, Bondi Bet, JokaRoom, Omni Slots, Fruits 4 Real, XPokies and Slottica.

In May, ACMA also requested that access be blocked to Fortune Casino, Raging Bull Casino, True Blue Casino, Free Spin, Two Up Casino, BoVegas, Cherry Gold Casino, Slots Empire, Real Money Casino, Red Dog Casino and Wild Joker.