ACMA Seeks Blocks on 12 More Illegal Gambling and Affiliate Websites in Australia

Australia’s communications regulator has requested new internet-service-provider blocks targeting illegal gambling and affiliate-marketing websites, saying the services were operating in breach of the country’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

In an announcement published on 25 June, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) named 12 sites in the latest action: 7Signs, Chromabet.org, Donbet, Duospin, Freshbet, Slots Gem, Jacks Club, Lucky Start, Pointsbetz.com, Spinrise, Vinyl Casino and Wildsino.

ACMA said Chromabet.org was imitating the licensed ChromaBet service, while Pointsbetz.com was imitating the licensed PointsBet service. That detail is important. A familiar-looking name, a polished website or gambling-related search result is not proof that a service is authorised to serve Australian customers.

The regulator said its investigations found the services were operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act. It has asked Australian ISPs to block access to the sites as part of its enforcement approach.

What the action covers

ACMA says website blocking is one of several options it can use to disrupt illegal online gambling. Its public guidance explains that blocks can relate to prohibited interactive gambling services, unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services and advertising for those services.

The latest group includes both gambling brands and affiliate-marketing sites. That is a useful reminder that compliance does not begin only when a customer opens a gaming account. Comparison pages, promotional pages and brand-search journeys can all influence where a person ends up playing.

As of the announcement, ACMA said 1,751 illegal gambling and affiliate websites had been blocked since it made its first blocking request in November 2019. It also said more than 230 illegal services had withdrawn from the Australian market since it began enforcing new illegal-online-gambling rules in 2017.

Those figures describe enforcement activity, not a guarantee that all illegal services have disappeared. Domains can change and online marketing can move quickly. Consumers should treat blocking as one safeguard—not a substitute for checking a service before using it.

What Australian customers can do

ACMA advises people to check whether a wagering service is licensed to operate in Australia through its register. The regulator also warns that overseas or illegal gambling services may not provide important consumer protections and that customers can face difficulty recovering money from them.

This is particularly relevant to online casino-style offers. ACMA’s guidance says Australian law prohibits online casino services, online slot machines and services allowing in-play sports betting, among other activities. A site that advertises in Australian dollars or appears high in search results should not be assumed to be lawful or locally licensed.

Customers who see a suspicious service can use ACMA’s complaint process. Before depositing money or sharing identity documents, it is worth checking the operator, the applicable licence and the rules that apply in the customer’s state or territory.

A wider affiliate lesson

For legitimate media and marketing businesses, the announcement highlights the value of clear market-specific information. An affiliate page should not blur the difference between a licensed wagering provider, a prohibited online casino service and an offshore site that merely presents itself as familiar.

Clear disclosures, current terms and visible responsible-gambling information are not cosmetic extras. They help users understand what they are being offered and make it easier for regulators, partners and customers to assess a service.

ACMA’s latest request is therefore both an enforcement update and a consumer reminder: legitimacy is something to verify, not something to infer from a logo, a promotion or a search ranking.

Gambling is not a way to make money. If gambling is causing harm, seek local support and consider setting limits or taking a break.