Australian ISPs to Block Additional Gaming Sites - Users May Remove Funds

Today situation with Australian gambling looks like this: every iGaming operator who wants to provide Australians with services must have a license, and it is not necessary for someone outside the region. That hasn't prevented some individuals from creeping into the world, however, and this is where the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) comes in. The government-led body keeps identifying and punishing criminals, and has just netted two more people. Fortune Clock Casino and Dinkum pokies users would need to withdraw their funds as soon as possible, or face permanently losing their money.

According to the digital gambling act of 2001, the ACMA regulates its operation and has power over who can or may provide online gaming services in the region. Last year, the law was revised to allow the organization greater influence and last November, it started cracking down on illegal iGaming operators. It has since given ISPs (Internet Service Providers) 150 requests to make them ban unauthorized domains, of which 28 have been sent since January of this year.

Australia says it will cover all the gamblers, all the time, by restricting iGaming to authorised operators. As the problem became more of a hot topic this past April, the New South Wales Office of Responsible Gambling Director Natalie Wright said:

“For people that do want to gamble online, you should only use services licensed in Australia, as there are consumer safeguards in place and responsible gambling options, such as the ability to set time and expenditure limits. Overseas gambling websites are illegal in Australia, and people who use them face additional risks than when they gamble with a licensed Australian operator.”

Users of the offensive pages, in principle, won't be able to reach their accounts as soon as ISPs respond. This will potentially preclude them from being able to access the money on their online accounts, so procrastination would not be a wise decision in removing the funds. However, if the sites did have a bad track record of responding to demands for withdrawal, it would not be an easy feat to take out the cash.