Australia orders ISP blocks on four more illegal gambling platforms as consumer risk concerns increase

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has directed internet service providers (ISPs) to block four additional online gambling sites found to be operating in violation of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).

The latest enforcement move targets Megabet Prize, Mega Medusa, TF2Royal, and Casino Intense, platforms determined to be offering prohibited services to Australian consumers without appropriate licensing.

Following a regulatory investigation, ACMA found the sites were involved in multiple breaches of the IGA, including offering unlicensed interactive gambling services such as online casinos and in-play sports betting, as well as advertising these illegal offerings.

Under the Telecommunications Act 1997, ACMA has authority to instruct ISPs to restrict access to such content, forming part of its broader strategy to protect Australian users from unregulated online gambling.

This week’s action brings the total number of sites blocked since enforcement began in November 2019 to 1,210. In addition, approximately 220 illegal gambling services have exited the Australian market since ACMA began applying its enforcement powers in 2017.

Despite the closures, ACMA continues to warn users about the risks posed by unlicensed platforms, noting that even services that appear professional may lack essential consumer protections.

“Even if a service looks legitimate, it’s unlikely to have important consumer protections,” the Authority said in a public notice. “This means Australians who use illegal gambling services risk losing their money.”

TF2Royal, for instance, operates entirely on a “skin betting” model, using digital items from the video game Team Fortress 2 to place wagers on games like CoinFlip and Roulette. The site has no formal license and limited user safeguards, with terms of service providing minimal recourse for item loss or technical failures.

Mega Medusa and Casino Intense, both licensed in Curaçao, were also flagged for failing to implement geoblocking measures to prevent access by Australian users. While Casino Intense remains accessible, Megabet Prize has already shut down.

Consumers are encouraged to verify the licensing status of any wagering platform through ACMA’s official register and to report suspected illegal sites directly via the ACMA website, which also offers guidance on protecting oneself from unlicensed operators.

In November, ACMA requested that Australian ISPs block seven more illegal online gambling websites after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The sites blocked included MyEmpire, Pokienations, RollXO, Betsquare, Freeslotshub, PayID-Gambler.com, and FreeBitco.in. In October, the authority requested ISPs to block two other illegal offshore websites: Lucky Block and Rooli.