Casino Australia Online, Pokies.bet, Pokiesman and Smart Pokies were all identified as targeting consumers illegally earlier today (21 August). The four affiliate sites promote illegal online gambling in Australia, in breach of the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act.

The Act bans products such as online casinos, online slots and in-play sports betting.

Websites may also face action for offering online gambling without an operating licence in Australia. ACMA can also block sites publishing adverts for prohibited or unlicensed gambling services.

Ongoing effort to combat illegal online gambling in Australia

ACMA began making blocking requests in November 2019. Since then it has blocked 1,026 illegal gambling and affiliate websites. 

In addition to this, 220 services have exited Australia since ACMA began enforcing illegal offshore gambling rules.

“ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, its unlikely to have important consumer protections,” ACMA said. “This means our laws can’t help if something goes wrong, like if the service provider withholds winnings. 

“Players can check if a wagering service is licensed to operate in Australia on our register.”

Other sites to have been blocked in recent months include Richard Casino and Wanted Win, both of which were flagged by ACMA in July.

A Big Candy, Jackpoty and John Vegas Casino were also blocked in June for breaching rules on online gambling. Meanwhile, Jogi Casino, Dundee Slots, Lucky Hunter, Lucky Wins, Lukki Casino, Spin Fever, Clubhouse Casino and Winport Casino suffered a similar fate in May.

Legal affiliates to disappear from Australia?

In recent weeks, reports have emerged of Australia’s government getting set to implement a stricter approach to gambling advertising. It may result in a total ban for online advertising, which would push even legal affiliates from the market.

However efforts are under way to force that ban to extend to TV and radio. While the government is considering a watered-down version of a 2023 proposal to implement a TV and radio ad ban, lawmakers and campaigners want it fully enforced.

The government’s alternative – capping gambling ads at two per hour until 10pm and no ads an hour before and after live sports broadcasts – has prompted a campaign for the full ban.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) is at the forefront of these efforts. It coordinated an open letter from prominent lawmakers including former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and John Howard calling for a blanket ban on all advertising. It has even become an activist shareholder in broadcasters Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media, pushing the networks to drop gambling advertising.

The government, however, claims a ban harms free-to-air broadcasters. Minister Bill Shorten said a ban on gambling adverts would only undermine these networks, which are “under attack” from digital media platforms last week. A think tank recently proposed a 2% tax on gambling revenue to cover broadcasters’ revenue shortfall, arguing advertising from junk food, fossil fuels and banks can fill gaps on the airwaves.