On June 21, 2023, the Acma (Australian Communications and Media Authority) added another dozen supposedly illegal gambling sites to the blacklist of blocked sites. This is the latest enforcement action as the agency has been on a tear in blocking gaming websites.
Website blocking is the primary tactic that the ACMA has utilized over the past few years. The ACMA asks Internet Service Providers to block citizens' access to specific URLs and websites that it deems are offering gambling services to Australians.
The ACMA Enforces the Interactive Gambling Act
The ACMA primarily enforces rules and regulations relating to the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. The Interactive Gambling Act was amended back in 2016 and basically adjusted the laws to ban all offshore operators from offering gambling services to Australians. There are a few licenced sportsbooks, but all other gaming sites are considered illegal by the ACMA.
The ACMA has continued to enforce Australian gambling laws very tightly in an effort to enforce the amended Gambling Act. The issue here is that it creates confusion for Australian consumers who wish to gamble safely online. The ACMA's tactics likely divert players to shadier, unscrupulous operators because the agency has blocked so many reputable and trusted sites, like Ignition Casino and Poker.
About the Blocked Sites
In looking at the list of sites that the ACMA blocked this time around, it becomes apparent that most of the sites operate very similarly. These sites offer casino games like slots, roulette, and blackjack to players on the internet. The ACMA asserts that these sites need to hold a valid licence and be headquartered in Australia, which none of the sites blocked are.
There are a total of twelve gambling websites added to the growing ACMA blacklist. The blocked sites can be found below:
- Zen Casino
- Tsars
- Cleopatra Casino
- Zen Betting
- Zoome Casino
- Neon54
- Yabby Casino
- Goodman Casino
- 5Gringos
- Rabona
- 1RED
- AlfCasino
If we take a look at one of the most popular sites that was blocked, Yabby Casino, we can see what kinds of gambling are offered. Most of these brands are similar to Yabby Casino in that they only offer casino gaming; however, there are a few that also offer sports betting, like Rabona.
The ACMA Blocks Twelve Sites
The twelve sites referenced above have all been added to the ACMA blacklist of blocked URLs. This means that Australian Internet Service Providers have been asked to stop allowing players to access these sites, and the ISPs have abided by this request.
Since the ACMA first blocked sites back in 2019, there are now a total of 785 supposedly illegal gambling and affiliate sites on this blacklist. There have also been more than 200 operators that have pulled out of the Australian market since the agency began enforcing new regulations back in 2017.
The ACMA Has Blocked Numerous Sites
Dating back to 2019 when this type of enforcement first began, there have been numerous online gambling sites added to the growing blacklist. Back in December of 2022, the ACMA blocked Pokizino and ABA Lucky 33. Two months later in February 2023, the ACMA blocked another six gambling sites.
Only one month later in March 2023, the ACMA blocked another seven gambling sites and one affiliate site called No Deposit Kings. Shortly thereafter in May 2023, the ACMA blocked three gaming sites and issued a formal warning to CS:GO Roll for providing gambling using video game skins.
The effectiveness of the ACMA's efforts is questionable at best. Players can easily utilize VPNs or alter their DNS settings to bypass these restrictions. Additionally, many of the blocked casinos simply create new URLs in an endless cycle that the ACMA cannot possibly keep up with.
Safe Online Gambling and Poker Still Available in Australia
The ACMA's heavy-handed enforcement tactics regarding Australian gambling have certainly created a bit of confusion for Australian players who wish to safely gamble. Luckily, there are still plenty of reputable operators that cater to Australians offering online poker and casino gaming.
If you are interested in finding a reliable online poker site that serves Australian players, then please feel free to review this page dedicated to the best online poker sites for Australians.
Perhaps you are more interested in casino gambling? If so, do not fret as there are trustworthy and reliable options for Australian citizens. To learn more about the top-rated online casinos catering to Australians, consult our Australian online casinos guide.
When it comes to online casino games like slots and blackjack, Joe Fortune Casino is our top recommendation for Australian players. Joe Fortune boasts a large selection of slots, table games, and live dealer games, and the site offers plenty of valuable bonuses. Press the button below to sign up and get started at Joe Fortune today.
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