An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has blocked several offshore gambling and affiliate marketing websites. Casino Moons, Winnerama, Extra Vegas, Win Paradise, LegitGamblingSites.com and Gamblers Lab were among the websites the authority requested that internet service providers (ISPs) block.
Australia's Interactive Gambling Act 2001 states that the sites were providing illegal betting services and that blocking is one of a number of enforcement options available to the ACMA.
"Despite a legitimate service's appearance, the ACMA
warns consumers that it may lack important consumer protections." An illegal gambling service could result in a loss of money for consumers.
Blocking requests were first submitted by the ACMA in November 2019. Five hundred and sixty-eight illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been taken down during that time.
An update to the Authority's campaign to stop illegal gambling was announced in August, as the Authority expanded its list of websites targeted as part of its ongoing blocking efforts.
Affiliate marketing sites that are illegal or offshore
were included in the authority's blocking remit by this decision.
“We often get complaints from consumers that winnings are not honoured and that incentives and pressure tactics target problem gamblers.”
A number of other important developments
have been reported in recent months, including information on the launch of BetStop, a self-exclusion registry operated by Engine, the firm that maintains the UK's GAMSTOP service.