The regulator continues to use its power under s313. On Monday the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) directed the regional ISPs to ban nine more domains that it finds unconstitutional.
Such web sites include Roo Casino, GW Casino, Wager Beat, Ignition Casino, Jack Fortune, Casino Dingo, AU Slots, Top Bet & XBet.
According to the ACMA, over 79 complaints concerning these services were lodged.
“ACMA investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001,” the ACMA said.
The regulator warned Australians against withdrawing any funds from these sites.
More than 90 illicit businesses have fled the Australian sector since 2017 when criminal offshore gaming laws started to be applied, said the ACMA.
Such nine new sites preceded last November’s banning of Emu Casino, which has since been withdrawn from the Australian market but is still encouraging Australian consumers to withdraw their funds via customer support.
The blocks are in compliance with Section 313 of the Telecommunications Act, which has allowed the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in April 2013 to block 250,000 pages by accident. Every block must be approved by the president, deputy chair, or a senior executive in the ACMA in its blocking rules, with every order expiring after a “specified time.”
“The ACMA will monitor at regular intervals the disruption of access to the website to ensure that it remains appropriate (that is, it is effective, responsible, as targeted as possible and is executed appropriately),” the guidelines stated.
The Australian government has been trying to combat online gambling for most of the 21st century.
Minister of Communications Paul Fletcher previously stated that up to AU$400 million is spent on illegal gambling sites each year, which amount to AU$100 million in loss of tax.
“While ACMA has a range of powers to protect Australians from illegal gambling services — including issuing formal warnings and seeking civil penalty orders — it can be difficult to take direct action against faceless companies with no legal presence on our shores,” Fletcher said.
“This is an important partnership with the Communications Alliance, and I want to acknowledge industry’s support. Working with ACMA, these additional measures give ISPs the ability to block illegal websites, protecting Australians and contributing to a safer online gambling environment.”
