ACMA and blocking advertising campaigns of illegal operators
The Australian Communications and Media Commission (ACMA) is actively fighting the promotion of illegal online casinos in the country. In addition to blocking the sites themselves, significant attention is paid to suppressing advertising campaigns aimed at Australian users. These measures are based on the provisions of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) and the relevant by-laws.
1. Why advertising of illegal casinos is prohibited
Violates the IGA, which prohibits the promotion of gambling services without a license.
Creates the risk of involving players in unsafe platforms without protecting rights.
Used to bypass direct locks on domains and applications.
2. Ad distribution channels targeted by ACMA
Social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) - targeted ads for Australian IPs.
Search ads (Google Ads, Bing Ads) with keywords targeted at the local market.
Email marketing and spam mailings.
Affiliate sites and bloggers promoting links to offshore casinos.
3. Methods of detecting illegal advertising
Monitoring keywords and ads in search engines.
Analysis of complaints from players and organizations.
Tracking the activity of affiliate programs leading to banned sites.
Cooperation with international regulators and advertising platforms.
4. Ad blocking mechanisms
Sending notices of violation to advertising networks and sites.
Mandatory removal of ads targeted at Australian users.
Prohibition on displaying ads from certain domains and IP addresses.
Adding sites to the official list of prohibited ACMA resources.
5. Responsibility of advertisers and intermediaries
Penalties for participating in the promotion of unlicensed operators.
Loss of advertising accounts and domain blocking.
Reputational risks for agencies and bloggers involved in promotion.
6. Recommendations for legal operators and partners
Work only with licensed brands included in the ACMA register.
Check advertising campaigns for IGA compliance.
Exclude geotargeting to Australia for offshore unlicensed offers.
Conclusion
ACMA takes a comprehensive approach to blocking ads from illegal casinos, including monitoring digital channels, interacting with ad platforms, and enforcing sanctions. These measures are aimed at protecting Australian players and ensuring the gambling industry operates in the legal field.
1. Why advertising of illegal casinos is prohibited
Violates the IGA, which prohibits the promotion of gambling services without a license.
Creates the risk of involving players in unsafe platforms without protecting rights.
Used to bypass direct locks on domains and applications.
2. Ad distribution channels targeted by ACMA
Social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) - targeted ads for Australian IPs.
Search ads (Google Ads, Bing Ads) with keywords targeted at the local market.
Email marketing and spam mailings.
Affiliate sites and bloggers promoting links to offshore casinos.
3. Methods of detecting illegal advertising
Monitoring keywords and ads in search engines.
Analysis of complaints from players and organizations.
Tracking the activity of affiliate programs leading to banned sites.
Cooperation with international regulators and advertising platforms.
4. Ad blocking mechanisms
Sending notices of violation to advertising networks and sites.
Mandatory removal of ads targeted at Australian users.
Prohibition on displaying ads from certain domains and IP addresses.
Adding sites to the official list of prohibited ACMA resources.
5. Responsibility of advertisers and intermediaries
Penalties for participating in the promotion of unlicensed operators.
Loss of advertising accounts and domain blocking.
Reputational risks for agencies and bloggers involved in promotion.
6. Recommendations for legal operators and partners
Work only with licensed brands included in the ACMA register.
Check advertising campaigns for IGA compliance.
Exclude geotargeting to Australia for offshore unlicensed offers.
Conclusion
ACMA takes a comprehensive approach to blocking ads from illegal casinos, including monitoring digital channels, interacting with ad platforms, and enforcing sanctions. These measures are aimed at protecting Australian players and ensuring the gambling industry operates in the legal field.
