ACMA requests Australian ISPs to block Curaçao-linked illegal website

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) block Casino Bello, an offshore gambling website, after investigations found the service to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

According to ACMA, website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. The ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019 and there are currently 1033 illegal and affiliate websites blocked.

Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017.

The ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, it is unlikely to have important customer protections. Users can check if a wagering service is licensed to operate in Australia on ACMA’s register.

More information about online gambling is available on the ACMA’s website, including information on how users can protect themselves from illegal gambling operators and instructions on how to make a complaint about an illegal site.

Last month, ACMA announced that more than 28,000 Australians have registered to self-exclude from all licensed online and phone wagering services through BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, since its launch in August 2023.

The initiative, introduced by the regulator, aims to help individuals manage their gambling habits and reduce the associated harms. The BetStop register offers a range of self-exclusion options, allowing individuals to opt out of gambling services for as little as three months or as long as a lifetime.