Australia’s media regulator is continuing its robust campaign against illegal online gambling websites, ordering internet service providers to block a fresh wave of illegal websites.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has directed that access be restricted to five more platforms found to be in breach of national law.
The latest sites targeted by the regulator are Best Aussie Pokies and four associated domains: winspirit.online, win-spirit.online, winspirit.team, and winspirit1.com.
An investigation by the ACMA found that these platforms were offering unlawful gambling services to Australian consumers, a direct violation of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
Website blocking has become a primary enforcement tool for the ACMA in its efforts to disrupt the illegal offshore gambling market. Since this measure was first introduced in late 2019, the authority has successfully blocked a total of 1,279 gambling and affiliate websites from operating in the country.
This sustained pressure has had a significant impact, with the regulator noting that approximately 220 unlicensed operators have withdrawn from the Australian market since the enforcement of updated online gambling laws began in 2017.
The ACMA continues to issue strong warnings to the public about the dangers of using unlicensed gambling sites. These platforms typically operate outside of Australian law and lack essential consumer safeguards, which leaves players vulnerable to fraudulent activity and with no recourse if they lose their money unfairly.
To help consumers make safer choices, the ACMA maintains an official online register of all licensed gambling providers.
The authority urges all Australians to consult this register before engaging with any online gambling service and provides resources for reporting suspicious platforms. The regulator has affirmed its commitment to continuing its enforcement actions to protect Australian consumers.
