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ACMA issues formal warning to eight online gambling companies, including NovaForge

An investigation found that the companies were facilitating illegal gambling for Australian citizens.

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Key Points
A number of warnings have been made to gambling companies
They were found to offer illegal gambling services in Australia
However, some of the repeat offenders have been warned several times to no avail

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued formal warnings to 10 separate companies in its latest action taken against illegal gambling.

These have been issued to Just Entertainment BV (Lukki Casino), Pacific Odds SRL (Free Spinz), Simba NV (Monster Win), NovaForge (Mafia Casino, Slotexo, Talismania, Tiki Casino, Cleobetra), Ryker BV (Jackbit, CasinOK), Wonder Play Company NV (BetWhale), Stellar (SG Casino, Frumzi, Legiano, Bassbet) and Golden Mirage Limitada (NewLucky). 

These warnings were issued because the above brands were offering gambling services to Australian citizens without a licence. 

This directly contravenes the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 (the IGA). 

The majority of these operators also facilitated access to their website via an Australian customer link. 

Many of the companies were also headquartered in Costa Rica, Curacao or Anjouan. 

This is not the first time that some of these companies have been warned by the ACMA, with NovaForge and Ryker being repeat offenders in this jurisdiction. 

NovaForge alone has been warned nine times by the Authority, while Ryker was among the companies blocked in an earlier wave of regulatory action against black market casinos.

ACMA reported at the start of this year that it had successfully banned more than 130 websites that had flouted the IGA, but it seems that this has had little effect on the actual illegal market. 

It remains to be seen whether the ACMA will take any action that can successfully stop these brands from offering illegal services to citizens in the jurisdiction. 

Good to know

It is estimated that NovaForge operates around 59 online casino brands under its Anjouan licence

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