Australia’s communications watchdog has moved against eight online gambling operators, blocking access through DNS restrictions and calling on internet providers to step up enforcement efforts across the board.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority issued notices this week confirming it had worked with local ISPs to block sites including Casinospin, Frumzi, Great Win, and MyStake, the latter operated by Santeda International. Also caught in the sweep were Oh My Spins, RetroBet (run by Stable Tech), Viperwin, and what ACMA referred to as “The Dog House 2 Slot”. Likely referencing the popular Pragmatic Play title rather than a standalone operator, that last one.

Escalating Enforcement Campaign

The blocks follow investigations that found the sites breaching the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, Australia’s cornerstone legislation governing online wagering. What’s particularly notable is the pace of ACMA’s activity. The regulator has now blocked over 1,500 gambling and affiliate sites since November 2019 alone.

That’s a sharp acceleration from the 225 services pulled between 2017 and late 2019.

The numbers tell you everything about how seriously Australian authorities are taking unlicensed operators, especially those targeting punters without local approval.

Google Brought Into the Mix

ACMA isn’t stopping at DNS blocks either. The regulator recently submitted formal requests to Google asking the search giant to delist domains illegally serving Australian customers. Smart move, really. Blocking at the ISP level catches most casual traffic, but scrubbing search results closes another major access point.

For operators holding proper Australian licences, this kind of enforcement is welcome news. The licensing regime down under is strict and expensive, so seeing unlicensed competitors removed one by one levels the playing field. It also reinforces Australia’s position as one of the more tightly regulated markets globally. Right up there with the UK for serious oversight.

What It Means for Players

Australian punters attempting to access these sites will now hit ISP-level blocks, though VPN usage remains a workaround for those determined enough. The real impact is reputational. Being publicly named by ACMA as non-compliant is a black mark that follows operators internationally.

With over 1,500 sites blocked in just over four years, it’s clear ACMA has the resources and political backing to maintain this tempo. Licensed operators in Australia can expect continued protection from offshore competition, while unlicensed sites face increasingly hostile conditions trying to reach Australian customers. And frankly, that gap is only going to widen.

What the team thinks

Baz Hartley says:

Good to see ACMA taking action, though DNS blocks are really just a speed bump for determined players rather than a genuine solution. The real issue here is that operators like Santeda have built such strong reputations that Australians will simply find workarounds, which actually pushes them into a greyer area than if these sites were properly licensed locally. Instead of playing whack a mole with domains, regulators might get better results by creating a licensing framework that brings quality operators into the fold with proper player protections attached.