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Australia’s media regulator has ordered ISPs to block 12 more unlicensed gambling platforms — pushing the country’s total blocked site count past 1,750 since 2019. One operator was caught impersonating a licensed Australian brand.
Australia’s ACMA has ordered ISPs to block 12 illegal gambling sites including 7Signs, ChromaBet, Donbet, Duospin, Freshbet, Slots Gem, Jacks Club, Lucky Start, Pointsbetz.com, Spinrise, Vinyl Casino, and Wildsino. The ACMA illegal gambling crackdown has now blocked 1,751 sites since November 2019. One site — Pointsbetz.com — was actively impersonating the licensed PointsBet service to deceive Australian players.
Twelve unlicensed gambling platforms lost access to Australian internet users this week after the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) directed ISPs to block them under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The ACMA illegal gambling enforcement action is the latest in a sustained campaign that has now taken down 1,751 sites — and regulators show no signs of slowing down.
12 Sites Added to Australia’s Blocked List
The ACMA confirmed the identities of all 12 newly blocked platforms following an investigation into breaches of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The sites span a range of casino and sports betting brands — several operating across multiple jurisdictions with no Australian licence.
| # | Site Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7Signs | Online Casino |
| 2 | ChromaBet | Sports Betting |
| 3 | Donbet | Online Casino |
| 4 | Duospin | Online Casino |
| 5 | Freshbet | Online Casino |
| 6 | Slots Gem | Online Casino |
| 7 | Jacks Club | Online Casino |
| 8 | Lucky Start | Online Casino |
| 9 | Pointsbetz.com | Sports Betting (Impersonator) |
| 10 | Spinrise | Online Casino |
| 11 | Vinyl Casino | Online Casino |
| 12 | Wildsino | Online Casino |
The list is weighted toward casino-style platforms — ten of the twelve are casino brands. However, the inclusion of two sports betting sites signals that the ACMA’s sweep extends well beyond slots and table games. According to the regulator, all 12 were found to be operating without Australian authorisation, leaving players with no legal recourse if a dispute arose.
The ACMA also confirmed that the action covered affiliate marketing websites linked to illegal operators — a detail that matters. Affiliate sites funnelling Australian traffic to unlicensed casinos fall squarely within the ACMA’s enforcement scope, not just the casinos themselves.
One Site Posed as Licensed PointsBet
Pointsbetz.com stands out from the rest of this cohort. The ACMA flagged the site for deliberately mimicking the identity of PointsBet — a licensed and regulated Australian sports betting operator. The impersonation tactic is designed to exploit brand recognition and trick players into believing they are depositing with a legal service.
Pointsbetz.com used design and naming similarities to pass itself off as the licensed PointsBet brand — a deliberate deception that puts players at direct financial risk, with no real operator accountability if funds disappear.
This type of brand spoofing is among the more dangerous forms of illegal gambling activity. Players searching for a known, trusted brand can land on a fraudulent clone without realising it. There are no consumer protection obligations, no dispute resolution processes, and no regulatory oversight if funds go missing.
The ACMA has not publicly stated whether it is pursuing additional legal action against Pointsbetz.com beyond the ISP blocking order. In contrast, the legitimate PointsBet brand holds a valid licence under Australian law and operates under strict consumer protection requirements.
ACMA Illegal Gambling Crackdown: Scale and Scope
The numbers behind Australia’s enforcement program are significant. Since November 2019, the ACMA has now blocked 1,751 illegal gambling and affiliate sites — a figure that dwarfs comparable programs in most other regulated markets. The regulator began tightening enforcement rules back in 2017, and that multi-year build-up has produced compounding results.
More than 230 illegal operators have exited the Australian market entirely since the stricter rules took effect. That voluntary withdrawal data — while unverifiable in terms of where those operators went — suggests the program has genuine deterrent effect. Operators are calculating that Australia is not worth the enforcement risk.
The ACMA’s authority to act comes directly from the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which bans the provision of certain gambling services to Australian residents. ISP blocking is the primary enforcement mechanism — the regulator issues a blocking notice, and ISPs are required to comply. However, the system is not foolproof. VPN usage allows technically-savvy players to bypass blocks, and new domains can emerge quickly after existing ones are shut down.
According to Gambling Insider, Australia’s approach — combining ISP blocking with market-exit pressure — is increasingly being studied by other Asia-Pacific regulators as a template for offshore operator management. The Philippines, in particular, faces ongoing challenges with unlicensed online casino platforms targeting local players.
What Unlicensed Sites Mean for Players
The ACMA’s core message to Australian players is straightforward: unlicensed sites may look credible but offer none of the legal protections that come with regulation. There is no independent complaints body. No mandatory responsible gambling tools. No guaranteed payout auditing. If an unlicensed operator freezes an account or refuses a withdrawal, a player has no regulatory recourse.
The risk goes beyond losing money. Personal and financial data submitted to unlicensed sites may be handled without any data protection obligations — creating additional exposure. In some cases, unlicensed operators have been linked to broader fraud networks.
Players can verify whether a site holds a valid Australian licence through the ACMA’s official register. Any operator not listed should be treated as unlicensed regardless of how professional its website appears.
The pattern across this latest batch of blocked sites is familiar. Many launched with polished interfaces, welcome bonuses, and branding designed to project legitimacy. ChromaBet and Freshbet, for example, carried visual branding consistent with established licensed operators. In contrast, their lack of regulatory oversight made them materially different products — whatever their surface appearance.
For players across Asia-Pacific seeking safe, licensed alternatives, resources like CasinoBait’s best online casinos for Asian players cover operators with verified licensing credentials across multiple jurisdictions. The iGaming Business trade publication also tracks regulatory developments across markets in the region.
The ACMA illegal gambling crackdown is Australia’s ongoing enforcement program targeting unlicensed online gambling operators. Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, the ACMA directs ISPs to block illegal sites and has removed 1,751 platforms from Australian internet access since November 2019. Over 230 operators have also voluntarily exited the market since 2017.
ACMA’s latest blocking order covers 7Signs, ChromaBet, Donbet, Duospin, Freshbet, Slots Gem, Jacks Club, Lucky Start, Pointsbetz.com, Spinrise, Vinyl Casino, and Wildsino. All 12 were found to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 without a valid Australian authorisation. One site, Pointsbetz.com, was additionally flagged for impersonating the licensed PointsBet brand.
Under Australian law, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 makes it illegal for operators to offer certain gambling services to Australians without authorisation — but it does not directly criminalise players for accessing these sites. However, players using unlicensed sites have no consumer protection rights and face significant financial and data security risks if something goes wrong.
Pointsbetz.com was flagged by the ACMA for impersonating PointsBet, a legitimate licensed Australian sports betting operator. This type of brand spoofing deceives players into thinking they are using a regulated service when they are not. Funds deposited with impersonator sites carry no protection, and players have no recourse if the operator refuses withdrawals or closes accounts.
Australian players can verify licensing status through the ACMA’s official website at acma.gov.au, which maintains a register of authorised gambling services. Any site not appearing on this register should be treated as unlicensed regardless of its appearance or claimed credentials. Players should also check for licences from established international regulators such as the Malta Gaming Authority or UK Gambling Commission.
As of this latest enforcement action, the ACMA has blocked a total of 1,751 illegal gambling and affiliate marketing websites since the ISP blocking program began in November 2019. The regulator has been enforcing rules against illegal online gambling since 2017, during which time more than 230 unlicensed operators have withdrawn from the Australian market entirely.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
