Australia: ACMA orders blocking of 7 affiliate sites
The ACMA has told Australian internet service providers to block 7 sites that promote and drive traffic to online casino services.
Australia.- The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has told Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block seven affiliate advertising websites that bill themselves as independent reviewers of gambling services.
The sites to be blocked are:
- Aussie Casino Hex
- Australia OK Casinos
- Aussie Online Pokies
- Pokies
- Australian Casino Club
- Australian Gambling
- True Blue Casinos
The regulator said the sites provide direct links to illegal gambling services, often receiving a commission for providing them with web traffic.
Fiona Cameron, a member of the ACMA, said: “These marketing sites can push you to illegal gambling services that do not have the protections that go with licensed and regulated services.”
Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 in 2017, ACMA has blocked 279 illegal gambling websites, while a total of 144 services left Australia. It reported a 95 per cent reduction in the traffic to the top 10 gambling platforms that were blocked up to June 2021.
In July, the ACMA ordered a block on offshore gambling websites operated by Kings Chance Service. According to the regulator.
The ACMA also announced it had engaged Engine Australia to develop a National Self-Exclusion Register to help people who are dealing with gambling addiction problems.
Players will be able to exclude from licensed online and telephone betting services for three months or permanently. According to ACMA, providers will be prohibited from directly advertising and promoting to any self-excluded person.
