Why offshore casinos are being blocked by ACMA
* The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regularly initiates offshore online casino lockdowns to restrict Australians' access to illegal gambling services. These measures are based on the provisions of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) and are aimed at protecting players from operators operating without a local license.
1. Legislative basis for interlocks
Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) explicitly prohibits the provision of certain online games (including slots, roulette, poker) to Australian players if the operator does not have an Australian license.
ACMA is authorized to identify sites that violate the IGA and take action, including notifying ISPs to block domains.
2. Main reasons for blocking
No Australian licence - offshore casinos are not allowed to serve players from AU.
Violation of the ban on specific types of games - the offer of online slots, poker, live casinos.
Cheating players - refusal to pay winnings, non-compliance with the stated conditions of bonuses.
Violation of the principles of responsible play - lack of self-control tools, ignoring requests for self-locking.
3. Locking mechanism
1. ACMA monitors sites and receives complaints from users.
2. The operator is sent a notice of violation with a request to cease operations in AU.
3. If you ignore the requirement, ACMA applies to block the domain from Internet providers.
4. The site becomes unavailable from Australia, and if necessary, its "mirrors" are blocked.
4. Implications for players
Loss of access to the account - the blocked site is unavailable, and it is often impossible to withdraw funds.
Lack of legal protection - offshore operators are not required to return deposits after blocking.
Switching to less reliable platforms - players looking for workarounds risk getting to fraudulent sites.
5. Interlock efficiency
ACMA updates a monthly list of blocked domains that includes hundreds of sites.
Despite the locks, some players use VPN, which reduces the effectiveness of measures, but increases the risks.
Conclusion:
1. Legislative basis for interlocks
Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) explicitly prohibits the provision of certain online games (including slots, roulette, poker) to Australian players if the operator does not have an Australian license.
ACMA is authorized to identify sites that violate the IGA and take action, including notifying ISPs to block domains.
2. Main reasons for blocking
No Australian licence - offshore casinos are not allowed to serve players from AU.
Violation of the ban on specific types of games - the offer of online slots, poker, live casinos.
Cheating players - refusal to pay winnings, non-compliance with the stated conditions of bonuses.
Violation of the principles of responsible play - lack of self-control tools, ignoring requests for self-locking.
3. Locking mechanism
1. ACMA monitors sites and receives complaints from users.
2. The operator is sent a notice of violation with a request to cease operations in AU.
3. If you ignore the requirement, ACMA applies to block the domain from Internet providers.
4. The site becomes unavailable from Australia, and if necessary, its "mirrors" are blocked.
4. Implications for players
Loss of access to the account - the blocked site is unavailable, and it is often impossible to withdraw funds.
Lack of legal protection - offshore operators are not required to return deposits after blocking.
Switching to less reliable platforms - players looking for workarounds risk getting to fraudulent sites.
5. Interlock efficiency
ACMA updates a monthly list of blocked domains that includes hundreds of sites.
Despite the locks, some players use VPN, which reduces the effectiveness of measures, but increases the risks.
Conclusion:
- Offshore casinos are blocked by ACMA due to IGA violation and lack of local license. For Australian players, this means that the use of such sites is associated not only with legal and financial risks, but also with the likelihood of a complete loss of access to funds.
