JustBet to be probed in Australia

An investigation has been launched by the Australian Communications and Media Authority due to possible illegal activities from JustBet.

Australia.- The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which is responsible for – among other things – the regulation of online content in the country, has initiated an investigation into alleged illegal activities carried out by sports betting operator, JustBet.

The company – which offers cryptocurrency and American dollars live betting on Australian sports – was registered by someone from Panama, and its IP address was traced by authorities to Costa Rica, hub of the international bitcoin-gambling industry. Despite the fact that it was registered by the Christmas Island Domain Administration (CIDA), which is in charge of web addresses ending in .cx in Australia, the sports betting operator was not licensed by gambling commissions in any states or local territories.

According to Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie, the website violated the federal Interactive Gambling Act that bans online gambling sites from providing unlicensed interactive gambling services, therefore he requested a total shut down of the portal. CIDA was against the request as it believed that authorities or a formal complaint from the public was needed in order to deregister JustBet.

ACMA told ABC News that the investigation into JustBet’s operations had begun as the authority had the right to apply to the Federal Court to set penalties and injunctions against those who violate the law. “The ACMA has published a register of interactive wagering service providers that are licensed by an Australian state or territory,” said a spokesperson for ACMA.