Australia’s regulator ACMA has blocked 12 illegal iGaming operators

A month ago, news emerged that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) had blocked nine websites, including not only online casinos but also affiliate platforms.

On 11 December, ACMA approached Australian internet providers requesting that they block another 12 illegal online gambling sites after an investigation found that these services were operating in violation of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The latest blocked sites include:

• Abu King

• BetAlice

• Dragon Slots

• Nova Jackpot

• Power Up Casino

• QuickWin

• Roby Casino

• Rocketspin

• Rooster Bet

• Vegasino

• Vegas Now

• Winbay

As ACMA stated in an announcement on its official website: “Website blocking is one of several tools used to protect Australians from illegal online gambling.”

Tightening enforcement

The trend toward stricter oversight has been ongoing for several years and continues to accelerate.

Since ACMA issued its first blocking request in November 2019, a total of 1,455 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked. Around 220 unlawful services have also exited the Australian market since ACMA began enforcing new online gambling regulations in 2017.

ACMA reminds consumers that even if a service appears legitimate, it is unlikely to provide essential consumer protections. This means Australians who use illegal gambling platforms risk losing their money. ACMA urges users to check whether a betting service holds an Australian licence in its official registry.

Growing Regulatory Pressure and Market Implications

Australia’s recent surge in ACMA-ordered blocks shows that the country is rethinking how it deals with the online gambling market. Regulators are no longer responding only after problems appear — they’re trying to stop illegal operators at the network level before they reach players. The goal is simple: limit access to sites that offer no real consumer protection, hide their ownership, and make it nearly impossible for users to resolve disputes or secure their funds. The constant emergence of new blocked domains also highlights how offshore operators keep shifting tactics, opening new sites and mirror pages to slip past restrictions. With ACMA expanding its tracking methods, the pressure on the industry is likely to grow even stronger.