The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for regulating Gambling activities throughout Australia, including online gambling and wagering services. A recent Acma investigation has revealed that a company known as Best Bookies was supposedly violating of the Interactive Gambling Act.
After a fairly prolonged investigation, the ACMA found that the BestBookies.com.au website has been operating in violation of the amended Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The agency has issued a formal warning to BestBookies as a result of this circumvention.
The ACMA Enforces Australian Gaming Regulations and Laws
When it comes to online gambling regulation, the ACMA is primarily concerned with enforcing all of the stipulations laid out in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Back in 2016, the IGA was amended to bolster the rules and regulations surrounding online gambling.
More specifically, these amendments effectively squeezed out any offshore online gambling providers from offering their services to Australians. More than 200 providers have pre-emptively ceased serving Australian customers in the wake of the amendment to the laws in place.
In addition, the ACMA has blocked more 800 supposedly illegal gambling sites that were or are offering their services to Australian consumers.
What is Best Bookies?
Best Bookies appears to be an online sportsbook and racebook service. The BestBookies.com.au site offers numerous wagers on worldwide horse races and sporting events. The site primarily focuses on horses, but it also features a full sportsbook which offers wagers on all major sports, including basketball, football, baseball, and much more.
What's somewhat unique about Best Bookies is that it does not book wagers with end users itself. Rather, the firm lets its customers place bets at numerous bookmakers through their BestBookies accounts.
This distinction is probably the reason why Best Bookies thought that its services were legal in Australia. Indeed, the site boasts that “All participating gambling operators are licensed in the jurisdiction in which they operate.” Clearly, the ACMA disagrees with this logic.
The ACMA Issues Formal Warning
Following a detailed investigation, the ACMA has issued a formal warning to the BestBookies.com.au service for offering supposedly illegal online gambling services to Australian consumers.
Best Bookies had apparently obtained the necessary authorisations from the relevant state-based gaming regulator, but it did not hold the required licence to provide interactive gambling services under the IGA which governs all Australian online gambling. This is clearly an unfortunate situation as this site had proceeded in good faith under its state licensure but this was insufficient to appease the ACMA.
This is largely due to the fact that it is nearly impossible to obtain valid licencing to provide online gambling services as an offshore operator. The IGA essentially bans all kinds of offshore gaming operations, besides a handful of specifically licenced sportsbooks.
The ACMA Continues Enforcement
Although in this instance, the ACMA has simply issued a formal warning, in many cases, the agency has resorted to blocking sites by asking Australian ISPs to restrict citizens' access. Earlier this year, the ACMA blocked a few gambling sites.
Unfortunately, this kind of enforcement is nothing new. Site blocking has been occurring with regularity for a few years now. Only one month ago, the ACMA blocked five sites including ViperSpin Casino.
Back in February of this year, the ACMA blocked Pokie Surf and a few other sites. Another example took place when the ACMA blocked a dozen sites including Zen.
Unfortunately, the success of the ACMA's efforts has been marginal at best. Gambling brands have consistently found ways to bypass these bans, including by creating new URLs. Users have also resorted to altering DNS settings to circumvent restrictions.
As a result, the ACMA isn't really assisting Australian consumers in our opinion. Issuing warnings and repeatedly blocking sites with methods that are easily circumvented has not had the impact that the agency has hoped for. Additionally, when the ACMA does block reputable sites like Ignition Casino, it may result in Australians gambling at less trustworthy sites where their personal information and finances may not be secure.
Online Poker and Gambling Still Available in Australia
Although the ACMA is cracking down on multiple online gambling providers, there are still safe and secure operators offering online gambling services to Australians.
Poker players may wish to browse over and check out this extensive guide regarding the best online poker sites for Australians while players who prefer casino gaming may want to peruse this detailed Australian online casinos guide.
Sports bettors residing in the land down under may want to check out BUSR.ag. BUSR accepts Australian players and features a full, world-class sportsbook and racebook. Feel free to utilise the button below to sign up at BUSR and get started today.
