ACMA Blocks 61 Illegal Gambling Sites in First Quarter of 2025

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) continues to play a critical role in curbing illegal online gambling in Australia. In its first-quarter report for 2025, ACMA reported substantial action against unlicensed operators, revealing key enforcement measures under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).

From January to March 2025, the ACMA handled a total of 350 public enquiries, of which 283 were valid and eligible for investigation under the IGA. These investigations led to significant outcomes, including the completion of 22 probes into 25 gambling sites, all of which resulted in identifying breaches of the Act.

In these 22 investigations, ACMA found a total of 33 breaches across various sites. The breaches included 20 instances where prohibited interactive gambling services were provided to Australian customers, as well as 12 cases involving unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services. One site was also found to be advertising prohibited or unlicensed gambling services in Australia.

ACMA’s findings highlight the ongoing challenge of ensuring compliance with Australian gambling regulations, with numerous operators continuing to offer illegal services despite the regulatory framework in place. The authority’s response to these breaches involved issuing 12 formal warnings to operators found in violation of the IGA.

As part of its enforcement efforts, ACMA referred 61 gambling sites to internet service providers (ISPs) for blocking. These sites, which primarily offered casino-style services such as blackjack, roulette, and slots, operated without the necessary Australian licences. Blocking these sites is one of the key strategies employed by ACMA to prevent Australian customers from accessing illegal gambling platforms.

In addition to ISP blocking, ACMA also reported these 61 URLs to family-friendly filter providers, ensuring that these sites are flagged and blocked across platforms that cater to households seeking to avoid harmful content.

The sites referred for blocking included notorious illegal gambling platforms like CoinPoker, Leon Casino, and Woo Casino, as well as several others offering prohibited services. These actions are part of a broader strategy to reduce the availability of unlicensed gambling services and maintain the integrity of Australia’s gambling market.

ACMA’s efforts are not just limited to blocking websites; the authority is also committed to addressing other forms of non-compliance. In addition to formal warnings and website blocks, the ACMA continues to monitor and respond to illegal gambling services through regulatory and legal channels.

As of April 2025, a total of 1,178 illegal gambling websites have been blocked since the start of the initiative in November 2019. This figure illustrates the growing scale of ACMA’s ongoing commitment to disrupting illegal gambling operations and protecting Australian consumers from unlawful services.

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ACMA continues to encourage Australians to report suspected illegal gambling websites directly through its official channels. This community engagement is crucial in helping the authority identify and address non-compliant operators quickly and effectively.

It is important to note that offering or advertising unlicensed gambling services in Australia is an offence under the IGA. ACMA’s latest actions, including the referral of 61 gambling sites for blocking, serve as a strong reminder of the legal consequences for operators found in breach of these regulations.

Source:

ACMA Action on Interactive Gambling – January to March 2025, acma.gov.au, April 2025.