ACMA to block more gambling sites

The Australian authority ACMA has ordered internet service providers to block nine offshore gambling sites.

Australia.- The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block nine offshore gambling sites as the authority considers them to be illegal.

ACMA said that it received more than 79 complaints about the nine offshore gambling sites. The operators are Roo Casino, GW Casino, Wager Beat, Joe Fortune, Ignition Casino, Casino Dingo, AU Slots, Top Bet, and XBet.

“ACMA investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001,” the ACMA said, and warned locals to withdraw funds they have with these sites.

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 ACAM guidelines specify.

When announcing that the authority would block illegal sites back in November, Communications and Cyber Safety Minister Paul Fletcher said: “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.”