The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued a number of official warnings against overseas companies that are registered in various jurisdictions and operate online gambling brands.
ACMA names nine companies in latest enforcement action
In the case of the specific companies mentioned by ACMA, each of their respective online gambling brand has been identified as operating without a proper license in the territory of Australia and in clear violation of the country’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
ACMA has been issuing official warnings for a while now, but only revealed them late last week on its official Publications page. A total of nine companies were named in the official warnings, including CyberCraze Limitada, Stellar, LBC Enterprises BV, Ridley Media NV, Hollycorn NV, NovaForge Ltd, and others.
Among the most prominent brands involved were Playzilla and Spins of Glory, both of which were operated by NovaForge Ltd. NovaForge was found to be in breach of several existing gambling rules, including the provision of in-play betting as well as online casinos, which are completely prohibited in Australia.
Ridley Media, which runs Joe Fortune and Stellar Ltd, which is behind Malina Casino, was similarly warned about its offer of illegal gambling products to Australian players. These warnings are part of ACMA’s sprawling approach towards illegal gambling.
The regulator wants companies to comply and leave voluntarily
With overseas operators continuing to target the country’s residents and trying to drive gamblers away to what national and state laws deem illegal forms of gaming, ACMA has been stepping up its efforts in trying to shut down the offshore market and block it from accessing Australia.
The regulator has done so by both issuing formal warnings and following up on non-compliance with direct Internet Service Provider (ISP) blocks against the operators.
Another approach ACMA has adopted has been to reach out to overseas regulators in places such as Curacao and the Union of Comoros in the hopes of securing assistance from local enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities.
