The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has intensified its enforcement efforts against unlicensed offshore operators by requesting internet service providers to block an additional nine illegal online gambling and affiliate websites.
This action against these nine illegal gambling entities follows comprehensive investigations that determined these services were operating in direct breach of the country’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest services added to the national blocklist include illegal operators such as Cashed, King Maker, Posido, Spinight, and Spinsy, alongside affiliate sites like The Pokies Reviews and Topio Networks.
Notably, the regulator also targeted imitation services, specifically blocking next2go-au.com and wizbet.app, which were found to be mimicking licensed Australian services Next2Go and WizBet, creating confusion and posing a risk to consumers.
Website blocking is a core tool in ACMA’s broader, multi-faceted strategy aimed at protecting Australian consumers from the dangers associated with unlicensed gambling. Since the regulator initiated its first blocking request in November 2019, it has successfully blocked a substantial total of 1,369 illegal gambling and affiliate websites.
Furthermore, since ACMA began enforcing strengthened online gambling regulations in 2017, approximately 220 illegal services have voluntarily withdrawn from the Australian market.
The regulator consistently warns that unlicensed gambling services, regardless of their legitimate appearance, lack essential consumer protections.
Australians who use these platforms risk financial loss because illegal operators fall outside regulatory oversight and the local dispute resolution mechanisms. ACMA maintains a public register, urging consumers to verify whether wagering services hold valid Australian licences before engaging.
This latest blocking action follows formal warnings issued in October to multiple offshore operators found to be targeting Australian customers from jurisdictions including Curaçao, the Netherlands, and the Comoros Islands.
