Illegal Gambling Sites Blocked By DMCA

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has blocked several more illegal betting sites, including offshore gambling and online gambling brands, via a request to Australian internet service providers (ISPs) under the Interactive Gambling Act, targeting online gambling services.  

Authorities have called for restrictions on access to certain online gambling sites, such as Lucky7even, Zota Bet, Casino Infinity, and 50 Crowns. These sites are under scrutiny for not paying out winnings to their users.

To tackle illegal gaming, the ACMA employs various strategies, including the blocking of unauthorized online gambling sites. Since November 2019, they have successfully blocked access to over 900 gambling and affiliates sites. Additionally, upon ACMA’s request, another 221 illegal gambling services were shut down during this time frame.

If websites provide illegal gambling options to players in Australia, such as online casinos, pokies, live dealers or sports betting without proper authorization, they can be shut down. This includes sites operating without a valid licence or those offering services that aren’t regulated, ensuring they comply with the rules or face blocking.

Authorities have taken action against illegal offshore gambling websites, where a dozen of sites were blocked in December 2022 and June 2023. Additionally, in December 2023, operators like Mad Entertainment and Paloma Media received warnings for not adhering to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA), highlighting ongoing efforts to curb unauthorized online gambling activities.

Recently, Australia’s gambling scene has faced challenges, especially with the investigation of online gambling powerhouse bet365 by Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) for not following anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules. AUSTRAC’s chief, Brendan Thomas, highlighted the risk, saying that companies lacking strong processes are at risk of being exploited by criminals.

Last week, an interesting turn of events unfolded as The Royal Inn Hotel, as the establishment was slapped with a hefty fine of AU$7,540 for not adhering to the regulations set forth by the Gaming Machines Act. They were found guilty of a total of 13 offenses for allowing gambler to keep on playing pokies machines outside of authorised hours.

More recently, Adam Rytenskild, the CEO and Managing Director of Tabcorp, resigned after allegations surfaced about him using inappropriate and offensive language in the workplace. Although Rytenskild doesn’t recall speaking this way, he chose to leave his position anyway.

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