ACMA blocks three gambling sites and issues new advertising guidance

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested internet service providers to block three additional illegal gambling websites. The regulator has also issued guidance on new wagering advertising restrictions scheduled to take effect in January 2027.

The latest enforcement action targets Gday77, SpinBet and X4Bet, following investigations that found the websites operating in breach of Australia's Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The announcement coincides with the inaugural Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, organised by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) to raise awareness of unlicensed gambling services.

ACMA warned that illegal gambling platforms may lack consumer protections, exposing users to financial losses and potential identity fraud through the misuse of personal and banking information.

Since introducing website blocking in November 2019, the regulator has blocked 1,850 illegal gambling and affiliate websites.

Separately, ACMA has published initial industry guidance on the 'triple lock exception', which will determine when online content providers can continue displaying wagering advertisements from 1 January 2027. 

Under the new rules, wagering advertising will generally be prohibited unless providers take reasonable steps to satisfy three conditions.

These require preventing restricted users from accessing advertisements, ensuring recipients are logged into registered accounts and allowing account holders to opt out of wagering advertising. 

Restricted users include individuals under 18, those whose ages remain unverified, users without registered accounts and those who have opted out.

The guidance outlines measures providers may adopt to qualify for the exception and how ACMA will assess whether those measures are reasonable.

ACMA also intends to publish a list of online content providers implementing the triple lock system to help consumers identify participating services.

Providers planning to rely on the exception are encouraged to notify the regulator to receive updates on the development of the Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register.

Both announcements form part of ACMA's efforts to address illegal gambling activity and strengthen consumer safeguards across Australia's online environment.