NEWS
19 December 2023
ACMA delivers warnings to multiple operators for breaching gambling rules
By Gambling Insider

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued several warnings.

The first was to Mad Entertainment, the company behind Golden Lion, after an investigation found that it had breached the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) several times.

Investigators found that the Golden Lion platform was offering casino-style games to Australian customers, as well as having an Australian-facing link despite not having a licence from an Australian regulator.

A similar offence was committed by Paloma Media, a provider for Thunderpick, an esports betting site.

Thunderpick also did not have an Australian licence during a period when customers could access the site.

Both Dama and Friolion Limited, providers of Betibet, were also given official warnings after it was found that Betibet was accessible by customers with an Australian internet carriage service.

This wasn’t the only site that Dama and Friolion Limited were caught for though.

Dama was also warned for enabling Greenspin, Slotman and Jeetcity to operate in Australia without a licence, while Friolion was also caught for Greenspin and Slotman.

According to the IGA, a site is classed as having an Australian customer link if ‘any or all’ of the customers are physically present in the country.

These sites are also deemed to offer gambling services if customers can pay money to play games of chance or skill with the chance to receive money in return.

To protect customers, ACMA has a list of approved gambling providers on its website, with each company holding licences from either Liquor and Gaming NSW, the Northern Territory Racing Commission, the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission or Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, among others.

These aren't the only operators to have been caught by Australia recently though, as Ladbrokes, Neds, bet365 and Sportsbet were found to have breached in-play betting rules only a few days ago.