source: pixabay.comThe ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) has issued an order blocking 10 online gambling websites that it said have been operating in Australia illegally.
A number of pokies sites are included in the list of 10 sites provided by the ACMA and follow the 18 sites listed in February.
The 10 sites listed by the ACMA are:
- Play Croco
- Aussie Play
- Golden Reels
- All Spins Win
- Bonza Spins
- Pokie Spins
- Golden Pokies
- House of Pokies
- Pokie Mate
- PokieZ
According to the ACMA, all of the sites were found to be in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001the sites following its investigations after receiving a number of complaints from consumers.
As a result of the ruling, the ACMA has requested Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block the 10 gambling sites. Website blocking is one of a number of enforcement options available to the ACMA when combating unlicensed gambling in Australia.
ACMA Takes on Unlicensed Gambling Sites
The latest round of gambling and pokes sites to be banned by the ACMA continues its recently escalated war on unlicensed gambling sites. In February, 18 sites, including Syndicate Casino, Fast Pay Casino, BitStarz, and King Billy Casino were banned.
Last year, August, October, and November all saw blocking orders issued. Since the first blocking request was made by the ACMA in November 2019, a total of 238 illegal gambling websites have been blocked in Australia.
The ACMA also noted that 130 unlicensed services have Australia since it began enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017.
Strict gambling laws mean that it is illegal to provide some interactive gambling activities, such as online casinos and online pokies, to someone in Australia.
However, according to statistics published by the Queensland Treasury in the 35th edition of Australian Gambling Statistics (regarded as the authoritative source of gambling statistics in Australia), Australians bet more than $242 billion in 2017-18. An astonishing $181.4 billion was spent on gaming such as casinos and pokies. The equivalent to $9,419 per capita.
