The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has instructed Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block six additional illegal online gambling websites, after investigations determined that the platforms were operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest websites added to the blocking list are Play Jonny, ACO96, TCL99, Waboom77, Wonaco, and WooSpin.
The regulator stated that website blocking is one of several enforcement measures used to protect Australians from illegal online gambling operators. Since the ACMA issued its first blocking request in November 2019, a total of 1,708 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked in Australia.
The ACMA also reported that more than 230 illegal services have withdrawn from the Australian market since the regulator began enforcing new rules on illegal online gambling in 2017.
In its statement, the authority warned consumers that illegal gambling platforms, even when they appear legitimate, are unlikely to provide essential customer protections. As a result, Australians who use these services risk losing their money. The ACMA encouraged users to verify whether a wagering operator is licensed to operate in Australia by consulting its official register of authorized providers.
The regulator said additional information on online gambling, including consumer protection guidance and instructions for filing complaints against unlicensed sites, is available on its website.
