The ACMA has shut down eight illegal gambling sites, adding to over 1,154 banned since enforcement began. Learn more about the crackdown and its impact.
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It is no secret that gambling is very popular in Australia, bringing in billions of dollars every year.
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While the sector has been successful, it is also facing more regulatory scrutiny than ever before.
Back in 2017, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 was passed and this has seen a Crackdown on illegal gambling sites operating within the country.
The latest development has seen the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) shut down eight different gambling sites that have been operating illegally.
This came after there were calls for the sides to be investigated, and now, they are no longer operational.
Gambling Trends in Australia
With how popular gambling has been in Australia, several trends have emerged in the last few years.
One of these, for example, is gambling with cryptocurrency.
Fiat currency was the go-to medium for placing bets for decades but with the emergence of digital assets, many are turning to them.
Some of the appeal includes the chance to have their assets multiplying value, faster transactions, and more privacy.
As Vlad Grindu writes, many consumers are grasping for the chance to win real money on these AU pokies, Australia’s most popular gambling game.
Another popular trend has been the use of offshore gambling sites.
As a way to access better deals, more game variety, and a host of other benefits, some Aussies turn to sites based outside of the country to meet their needs.
Finally, there has been a growth in mini-games’ popularity among gambling consumers.
These games are quicker than your traditional casino game like poker and include such titles as Plinko and the like.
These have become popular on gambling sites all over the world and Aussies are also embracing them.
But in all of these, both casino operators and customers must operate within the bounds of the law.
The Banned Sites
The sites that have been banned by the ACMA are JokaRoom, AUDPokies888, Aura Play, Instant Casino, Leon, Rich Papa, UUSpin and Wild Pokies.
Previously, the authority banned 1,154 illegal gambling and affiliate websites since the law went into effect.
It's also been estimated that about 220 gambling operations have exited the Australian market since the law became widely enforced.
This shows just how badly the law was needed and just how many illegal sites had been operating.
As the authority has pointed out, these are all in a bid to better protect Australian consumers and make sure they are getting the most value for their money.
Moving Forward
While this is the latest round of closures, it will likely not be the last. Just last month, the authority issued formal warnings to offshore operators Dama N.V. and Luster N.V that they were operating illegally by servicing Australian customers.
On top of that, Western Australia is believed to be tightening its own gambling restrictions.
Moving forward, we can expect even more enforcement of this law and inevitably, this will mean more businesses ceasing operations.
Hopefully, this will also lead to better protection and experiences for gambling consumers, given its enduring popularity.
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