Australia’s regulator has now blocked 1,788 illegal gambling and affiliate sites. More than 230 operators have pulled out entirely. The pipeline keeps flowing.
ACMA has ordered ISPs to block two more illegal gambling websites, Casea and Crown96, bringing the total blocked since November 2019 to 1,788. Over 230 illegal gambling services have withdrawn from the Australian market since the regulator began enforcing strengthened offshore rules in 2017.
- The Latest Blocking Orders
- ACMA’s Enforcement Record
- Why Blocking Is Not Enough
- The New Powers on the Horizon
ACMA has blocked two more illegal gambling websites in Australia, pushing its cumulative total past 1,700. The regulator ordered internet service providers to block Casea and Crown96 after investigations found both operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The latest additions bring the total blocked since November 2019 to 1,788. Over 230 illegal gambling services have withdrawn from the Australian market since ACMA began enforcing strengthened offshore rules in 2017. The numbers look impressive. They also reveal a treadmill. For every site blocked, new ones appear. The regulator cautioned that illegal services may look legitimate but lack the consumer protections required of licensed operators. Australians using them risk losing their money. The warning is standard. The risk is real. However, blocking alone cannot solve the underlying demand. Regional coverage of Australia’s escalating enforcement against illegal gambling platforms has tracked the steady increase in blocking orders throughout 2026.
The Latest Blocking Orders
Casea and Crown96 are the newest targets. ACMA’s investigations found both sites operating illegally under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The specifics of the breaches were not detailed in the announcement. Typically, ACMA targets offshore operators offering casino games, sports betting, or affiliate marketing to Australian residents without a local licence. Crown96’s name is notable. It echoes Crown Resorts, the major Australian operator that does not offer online gambling. The naming choice is common among illegal sites. They borrow legitimacy from established brands to attract users who may not distinguish between licensed and unlicensed platforms. Casea appears to be a lesser-known property. The blocking orders require Australian ISPs to restrict access to both domains. The mechanism is DNS-level blocking. It is effective against casual users. Tech-savvy players bypass it with VPNs, alternative DNS servers, or mirror sites. ACMA acknowledges this limitation. The blocking strategy is not designed to eliminate access. It is designed to raise friction and reduce volume.
ACMA’s Enforcement Record
The 1,788 figure is a milestone. ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019. In less than seven years, the regulator has averaged roughly 250 blocks annually. The pace has accelerated. More than 230 illegal services have withdrawn from the Australian market since 2017. Withdrawal is the preferred outcome. When an operator exits voluntarily, ACMA avoids the technical and legal costs of blocking. The threat of blocking often suffices. The regulator publicises its actions widely. Operators monitoring Australian compliance news see the pattern and calculate the risk. For persistent offenders, ACMA escalates. Blocking is one tool. The regulator also issues formal warnings, refers cases to federal police, and coordinates with international counterparts. The cumulative effect is a shrinking but resilient illegal market. The 230 withdrawals represent operators who chose compliance over confrontation. The 1,788 blocks represent those who did not. The ratio suggests most illegal operators eventually exit. The minority that stay create the ongoing enforcement burden.
Why Blocking Is Not Enough
ACMA’s own messaging acknowledges the limits. The regulator warned that illegal services may appear legitimate. They use professional design, familiar branding, and local payment methods. Consumers cannot easily distinguish them from licensed operators. The risk is financial. Unlicensed sites operate outside Australian consumer protection law. Winnings may not be paid. Deposits may be stolen. Dispute resolution does not exist. The regulator directs consumers to its online licensing register to verify whether a wagering service is authorised. That is a reactive measure. It helps users who check before playing. It does not reach the majority who do not. The blocking strategy faces technical constraints too. DNS blocks are trivial to circumvent. New domains replace blocked ones within days. Affiliate marketers redirect traffic to mirror sites. The whack-a-mole dynamic is familiar to regulators globally. Australia’s geographic isolation helps. It is harder for offshore operators to market through local channels. However, digital advertising transcends borders. Social media platforms, search engines, and influencer networks deliver illegal gambling ads to Australian users regardless of domain blocks.
The New Powers on the Horizon
The current blocking regime is about to get stronger. The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, introduced in July, would expand ACMA’s powers significantly. The bill would allow the regulator to issue removal notices for illegal gambling advertisements on online content services. It would require ISPs, DNS providers, app stores, and search engines to block designated illegal operators. Banks and payment providers would face positive obligations to block fund transfers. Those are hard powers, not requests. Most provisions are scheduled to commence on January 1, 2027. A Senate inquiry is due to report soon. The bill addresses the gaps that make blocking alone insufficient. Advertising cuts off demand at the source. Payment blocking cuts off the money flow. Together, they target the business model rather than the domain name. The 1,788 blocks are a record of persistence. They are also a record of limitation. ACMA has kept pace with illegal operators for seven years. The new legislation aims to get ahead of them. Whether it succeeds depends on implementation speed, platform cooperation, and the adaptability of offshore operators who have proven resilient against every enforcement tool deployed so far.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many illegal gambling sites has ACMA blocked?
ACMA has blocked 1,788 illegal gambling and affiliate marketing websites since making its first blocking request in November 2019. The regulator has also driven over 230 illegal gambling services to withdraw from the Australian market since 2017.
Which websites did ACMA most recently block?
ACMA ordered ISPs to block Casea and Crown96 after investigations found both operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Crown96’s name mimics Crown Resorts, a common tactic among illegal sites to borrow legitimacy from established brands.
How does ACMA website blocking work?
ACMA issues orders requiring Australian ISPs to implement DNS-level blocking of illegal gambling domains. The restriction prevents casual access but can be circumvented by tech-savvy users through VPNs, alternative DNS servers, or mirror sites operated by affiliate marketers.
What new powers will ACMA get under the 2026 gambling reform bill?
The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2026 would give ACMA power to issue removal notices for illegal gambling ads, require ISPs and search engines to block operators, and impose positive obligations on banks and payment providers to block fund transfers to illegal services from January 2027.
How can Australian consumers check if a gambling site is licensed?
ACMA operates an online licensing register where consumers can verify whether a wagering service is authorised to operate in Australia. The regulator urges users to check before depositing, as illegal sites lack consumer protections and Australians risk losing their money.
Why do illegal gambling sites keep appearing despite blocking?
Offshore operators register new domains faster than regulators can block them. Affiliate marketers redirect traffic to mirror sites. The low cost of launching new domains and the high revenue from Australian players create an economic incentive that blocking alone cannot eliminate.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
