Australia’s gambling watchdog is still cracking down on illegal online gambling. The ACMA has just ordered internet providers to block five more offshore sites. The SEO keyphrase illegal online gambling remains at the heart of the regulator’s action.

• The latest sites blocked include Best Aussie Pokies and four winspirit-branded domains. All were found to be breaching the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. These sites were targeting Australians without holding a valid local licence.

• Website blocking is just one enforcement method used by the ACMA. The regulator started this approach back in November 2019. Since then, 1,279 illegal gambling and affiliate sites have been blocked.

• On top of that, about 220 illegal operators have exited the Australian market. That trend follows the regulator’s introduction of stronger enforcement in 2017. Many left voluntarily after facing increased scrutiny.

• The ACMA says illegal online gambling services often lack basic customer protections. That puts users at risk of losing deposits or winnings. “Even if a service looks legitimate, it’s unlikely to have important customer protections,” the ACMA warned.

• Players are encouraged to check the licensing status of any site they use. A public register is available on the ACMA website. It helps consumers confirm whether a gambling service is legally allowed to operate in Australia.

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