The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is at it again, setting a mandate for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to put IP blocks on four different illegal gambling and affiliate websites within Australia. In the line of fire this time around are Casino Australia Online, Pokies.bet, Pokiesman, and Smart Pokies. These four sites join a long list of 1026 other blocked sites that the ACMA has earmarked as illegally operating to Australian customers, since the ACMA’s crackdown against these sites first started in 2019.
This, of course, doesn’t mean that all affiliate sites should be avoided. There are of course some that are useful and provide insightful information to players, and you can gain a better understanding if you look at NoDepositBonus.guide.
Let’s cover the ACMA, what the sites have done to have their IPs banned for access by Australians and how it impacts players and information seekers.
Who are The ACMA
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is the Australian government body in charge of regulating communications and media within the country. As such, the ACMA has governance over media such as TV, radio, print, and online gambling. There is even a division within the authority dedicated to media control and ownership compliance and investigations, as the body tries to keep Australia’s media market competitive. The ACMA
In the online gambling and compliance investigations space, ACMA performs operations like minimising gambling harm, investigating illegal offshore operations, determining whether gambling advertising meets Australia’s strict standards, consumer awareness campaigns, and website blocking under the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001.
Which Are These Sites and What Are They Doing Wrong?
Casino Australia Online, Pokies.bet, Pokiesman, and Smart Pokies are offshore operators providing gambling services or are affiliates of gambling services. Under Australian regulations, companies can have their websites blocked by IP if they:
- Offer country-banned gambling services to Australians
- Offer unlicensed gambling services to Australians
- Publish ads for country-banned gambling services or unlicensed gambling services to Australians
For example, in ACMA’s Formal Warning to the Provider of Pokiesman, the notice informs the company that their service contained content advertising casino-style services including reviews and listing of online casinos, direct hyperlinks to the websites listed, and encouragements to try out the sites. According to the ACMA, some of the services advertised on Pokiesman are banned in Australia and have a direct link to the site - constituting a breach of the Interactive Gaming Act under subsection 15(2A).
The ACMA paid particular attention to the fact that the website was targeted at Australians, containing common slang used within the country such as Aussies and pokies. The website was accessible without a VPN from Australia.
Why The Crackdown?
Australia has a regulated gambling industry that mainly revolves around sports betting, but contains a few other online avenues such as lotteries. There are companies licensed in Australia to provide these services, such as Sportbet and TAB, the latter of which evolved from their in-person sports betting services around the country. However, many of the services offered to Australians online are from offshore operators, often with access to casino play and other games.
The online gambling world has exploded in the number of offerings, including sites, games, and who they are offered to - including Australians. As the ACMA is in charge of trying to corral rogue operators who blatantly flaunt the rules, they often put forward these notices to providers and affiliates.
How Does it Impact Players?
Australians access all sorts of online gambling and informational websites from within the country. IP banning at the ISP level is often considered fairly ineffective for people who are dedicated to sourcing online gambling at offshore operators, as a VPN provides an easy workaround.
In cases such as these brought forward to the ACMA, it is more about websites specifically targeting Australians and play dedicated to people in Australia. For now, authorities do not penalise players themselves within the country; only the operators who serve these players are penalised when they identify such operators.
The ACMA recently reported that over 28,000 people had placed a self-exclusion ban on themselves from online gambling since August 2023. The results of the exclusion ban show that more than half of these people are under the age of 30. Self-exclusion bans last a minimum of three months and bans can also go up to the player’s lifetime. Covered under the ban are licensed websites within Australia, which makes it tricky to self-exclude from illegal offshore operators unless they offer this service themselves. The self-exclusion register is offered under Betstop, a national service offered on behalf of the Australian government by IXUP Limited.
The ACMA continues to investigate illegal operators and will continue to help serve the Australian people under legislation within the country.
This article was written in cooperation with NoDepositBOnus.Guide.