Australia: ACMA blocks two offshore lottery sites
It’s the first time that ACMA has requested Australian internet service providers block offshore lottery providers.
Australia.- The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested local internet services providers block two illegal offshore lottery websites. The two sites will be the first lottery sites blocked in Australia.
According to Fiona Cameron, a member of ACMA, investigations revealed the websites offered tickets for major overseas online lotteries and were not licenced in Australia, which is prohibited under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The two sites are We Love Lotto and Red Fox Lotto.
Cameron said: “Blocking illegal offshore sites protects Australians from potentially dodgy operators, where there is little or no recourse if things go wrong. Lottery services that are licensed in Australia and operating legally have important safeguards that consumers expect.”
The ACMA has been requesting ISPs block illegal offshore gambling websites since November 2019. To date, 340 websites have been blocked at its request. In the 2020–21 financial year it targeted 55 services for site blocking, resulting in a majority experiencing a drop in Australian visitors of at least 90 per cent.
Cameron added: “We are very pleased with the outcome and it shows that the steps we are taking to combat illegal online gambling in Australia have had a positive impact.”
Last month, ACMA added five offshore gaming websites to its list of blocked sites: Spin Bit, Fight Club, Kim Vegas, Queenspins and Yoju Casino.
Through its website, ACMA said: “Website blocking is also a valuable opportunity to alert people to illegal gambling services. When users attempt to access a blocked site, they are unable to do so and are directed to the ACMA website for information about illegal and legal services.”
