The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has taken decisive action against A Big Candy, Jackpoty, and John Vegas Casino, signaling a continued crackdown on illegal online gambling operations within Australia. These websites have been flagged for breaching the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, and ACMA is now requesting that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) block access to these sites.
A Big Candy, Jackpoty, and John Vegas Casino are all involved in offering various forms of online casino games to Australian players. Under Australian law, any operators wishing to provide online gambling services must possess the appropriate licences. The ACMA has emphasized the risks to consumers who use these illegal services, stating, “ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, it’s unlikely to have important customer protections. This means Australians who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money.”
Website blocking is just one of several enforcement mechanisms ACMA employs to protect Australians from illegal online gambling activities. Since the inception of website blocking requests in November 2019, ACMA has managed to block access to approximately 995 illegal gambling and affiliate websites. A Big Candy, Jackpoty, and John Vegas Casino are now the latest additions to this comprehensive list aimed at curbing illegal gambling activities.
In addition to website blocking, ACMA has enforced rules that have led to over 220 illegal services exiting the Australian market since 2017. The scrutiny isn’t solely directed at operators lacking the correct licences; it also focuses on websites offering games not permitted in Australia, such as online slots and in-play sports betting.
The ACMA’s enforcement actions have been persistent this year, with 31 blocking requests already made against sites deemed to be operating illegal online gambling. Just last month, eight websites including Jogi Casino, Dundee Slots, Lucky Hunter, Lucky Wins, Lukki Casino, Spin Fever, Clubhouse Casino, and Winport Casino were flagged for breaching regulations.
. Two months earlier, in March, another batch of eight sites—Lucky7even, 50 Crowns, Rockwin, Bitdreams, Mr Pacho, Casino Infinity, Zota Bet, and Spicyjackpots—faced similar blocking orders.
The enforcement drive continued in February, when ACMA singled out twelve additional websites for regulatory breaches. Among these were Playzilla, Wazamba, Zet Casino, Slots Palace, Nomini, Casinia, SG Casino, Fez Bet, Buran Casino, Spin Better, Golden Bet, and Clash.gg.
It’s not just smaller, lesser-known brands that have faced ACMA’s stringent actions. Towards the end of last year, high-profile brands such as Ladbrokes and Neds, both owned by Entain, as well as Hillside’s Bet365 and Sportsbet, came under ACMA’s scanner for violating in-play betting rules. These operators were initially found to be in breach of interactive gambling rules by using Fast/Quick codes to facilitate in-play betting on sports, an activity prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, save for a few limited exceptions.
However, after initial contact from ACMA, these prominent gambling brands were later deemed to have complied with the regulations. Consequently, no further action was taken against them.
The ACMA’s consistent efforts underline its commitment to mitigating the risks of illegal online gambling and protecting Australian consumers. By blocking access to illegal services and ensuring only properly licensed operators can offer gambling activities, ACMA aims to maintain a safer online environment for Australian players. These measures serve to remind consumers of the potential dangers associated with illegal gambling services, encouraging them to engage only with licensed, regulated operators who offer necessary player protections.
