The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has recently taken action to block more illegal offshore gambling websites, as part of its ongoing enforcement of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001.
One of the newly blocked sites is Casino Bello, which was found to be in violation of Australian gambling laws.
As a result, ACMA has requested Australian Internet Service Providers (ISP) to block access to this site and other non-compliant sites.
The website blocking is one of several enforcement strategies used by ACMA to combat illegal online gambling.
Since initiating the first blocking request in November 2019, the agency has successfully blocked 1,033 illegal gambling and affiliate websites.
Consumers are reminded that seemingly legitimate services may lack essential customer protections. Therefore, ACMA maintains a register where individuals can verify whether a gambling service is licensed to operate in Australia.
For those seeking information on how to protect themselves from illegal operators and how to complain about unauthorized websites, the ACMA website also offers additional resources.
This news comes at a tense time in Australia, with a report showing that losses in the Australian gambling industry have reached AUD 32 billion, prompting activists nationwide to call for reforms.
This surge means that the average loss per adult in Australia is now AUD 1,555 per year, up from AUD 1,307 in the previous reporting period.
In August this year, Australia also saw a wave of bans on gambling advertisements, with the Gambling Reform Alliance calling on the Australian Prime Minister to take action.
The public letter proposing the measure was signed by 60 prominent figures, including former prime ministers, legislators, athletes, and scholars.
