ACMA Directs Australian ISPs to Block More Illegal Online Gambling and Affiliate Sites

Ten New Domains Blacklisted Following Violations of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has formally requested that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) block access to several additional illegal online gambling and affiliate marketing websites. The enforcement action follows comprehensive investigations by the regulator, which determined that these services were operating in direct breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

Regulator Targets Offshore Operations and Copycat Sites

The latest round of regulatory blocklists targets ten web domains, including prominent offshore brands and deceptive copycat platforms. Notably, the regulator has flagged Lightning-bet.com, a domain actively designed to impersonate the legitimate, fully licensed LightningBet brand.

Newly Blocked Gambling and Affiliate Domains

Cumulative Impact of Australian Enforcement Actions

Website blocking remains a key operational tool utilized by the ACMA to protect Australian consumers from the risks associated with unregulated, offshore gambling markets. Since the regulator executed its first official blocking request in November 2019, a total of 1,774 illegal gambling and affiliate marketing portals have been successfully restricted.

Furthermore, the regulator’s active oversight has prompted a significant shift in market composition. Since the ACMA began enforcing stricter interactive gambling compliance guidelines in 2017, more than 230 non-compliant digital services have voluntarily withdrawn from the Australian market.

Consumer Warning: Protecting Funds and Verifying Licenses

The ACMA is actively reminding the public that even if an offshore gambling website displays a highly professional interface, it is highly unlikely to carry mandatory consumer protections.

“Australians who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money, with little to no legal recourse.”

To assist players in verifying the regulatory status of digital platforms, the authority maintains an active, public register listing all legally licensed wagering services authorized to operate within the country. Safe-play guidelines, information on self-protection strategies, and instructions on how to file a formal complaint against non-compliant operators are readily accessible on the ACMA’s official website.