Australia will block 11 offshore gambling sites

The Communications and media authority has warned gamblers to withdraw any money they still hold on the sites.

Australia.- The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has warned Australian citizens to redraw any money from 11 offshore gambling sites which will soon be blocked.

ACMA has asked Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block Happy Hugo, Mucho Vegas Casino, Kahuna Casino, Rich Casino, Box 24 Casino, Bondi Bet, JokaRoom, Omni Slots, Fruits 4 Real, XPokies and Slottica.

ACMA said in a press release this Friday: “We urge Australian users of these sites to withdraw their money now.”

The communications and media regulator said it had received over 35 complaints about these services being accessible within Australia and that an investigation showed their operations to be in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

ACMA has been blocking websites’ ISPs when they are found to allow illegal gaming operations. Last January it blocked nine offshore gambling sites: Roo Casino, GW Casino, Wager Beat, Joe Fortune, Ignition Casino, Casino Dingo, AU Slots, Top Bet, and XBet.

ACMA said: “Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options, to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 66 illegal gambling websites have been blocked.”

The regulator said over 100 illegal online services had been pulled from the Australian market since 2017 when rules against offshore gambling were introduced.

It said: “Website blocking provides a valuable opportunity to alert the public to illegal gambling services though the messaging that appears when there is an attempt to access the site. Consumers are directed to information about online gambling on the ACMA’s website including a register of licensed interactive wagering services for consumers to check legal services in Australia.”