Published
OnlineCasinoLegal & Regulatory

ACMA makes significant illegal gambling website block

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has made one of its most significant illegal gambling website blocks ever, requesting that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) block thepokies.net.

ac ma
Listen To Article

As noted by the ACMA, payments to the website are estimated to run into tens of millions of dollars, with data from Similarweb showing there are around 30,000 Australians visiting the site each month.

An investigation from the authority found the site was operating online casino style games, which are prohibited in the country under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

“We have received more complaints about thepokies.net this year than any other illegal gambling website, and it is clearly doing a lot of harm to the Australian community,” said ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin.

“Complaints have ranged from people who have lost significant amounts of money through to the site refusing to honour deposits and winnings.

“By blocking access to sites like this we are sending a strong message that the ACMA can and will take action to stop illegal operators from targeting Australians.”

The ACMA has also requested ISPs to block illegal gambling sites Azure Hand, Abo Casino, Betroom, 777Bay, Space Lilly, Jet Casino, Katsu Bet, and Winz.

The ACMA added that 160 illegal services have pulled out of the Australian market since the group started enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017. Along with website blocking, the authority also relies on industry engagement, targeted enforcement and public education to disrupt illegal gambling.

O’Loughlin added: “If one of these sites decides to keep your money, and we know that happens quite regularly, there is nothing you can do about it.”

Premium+ Connections
Premium

RISK

 
Premium

Lynon

 
Premium

Digitain

 
Premium

Imagine Live

 
Premium

Revsharks

 
Premium

1xBet Partners

 
Premium

Galaxsys

 
 
Premium

PIN-UP Partners

 
Premium

Sport Generate

 
Premium

GammaStack

 
Premium Connections
Consultancy

SCCG Management

Executive Profiles
Zeal Network SE

Stefan Tweraser

VIP Play

Les Ottolenghi

Scientific Games

Keshav Pitani

Social & App

Spribe CEO exclusive: Simplicity is the foundation

Spribe CEO David Natroshvili speaks to Gambling Insider abou...

Redefining iGaming: A history of crash games

Crash games is a growing vertical that has taken gambling by...

A certain something: What makes crash games special?

Crash games. They’re simple, they’re easy to learn and,...

Smarter innovation to shape the future

Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze discusses the past, present a...

Facing Facts: The corner of quarterly contemplation

With Q1 reports out across the industry, Gambling Insider co...

Taking Stock: A guide to key stock prices across the industry

Gambling Insider tracks prices from some of the industry’s...

15 years of Gambling Insider: From the Founders

Over the last 15 years, Gambling Insider magazine has interv...

15 years of Gambling Insider: The Awards over time

Global Gaming Awards Event Manager Mariya Savova gives us he...