The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) block more illegal offshore gambling websites.
The ACMA’s latest request is for ISPs to block the Kings Chance Service, following numerous complaints about the service and an ACMA investigation which found it to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
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, 272 illegal gambling websites have been blocked.
Over 130 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since we started enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017.
Website blocking provides a valuable opportunity to alert the public to illegal gambling services through the messaging that appears when there is an attempt to access the site.
The ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, its unlikely to have important customer protections. This means Australians who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money.
More information about online gambling is available on the ACMA’s website, including a register of licensed interactive wagering services to check legal services in Australia, information on how to protect yourself from illegal gambling operators, and instructions on how make a complaint about an illegal site.