The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued its initial blocking orders against foreign lottery websites, after it decided that two sites were operating unlawfully in Australia.
The ACMA declared that its inquiry found that both We Love Lotto and Red Fox Lotto offered tickets for major international online lotteries and were not authorized in Australia.
The organization stated this made the two operators in violation of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, and therefore required Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to the websites.
“We Love Lotto and Red Fox Lotto are both operating unlawfully in Australia, which means players have no consumer protections,” said agency member Fiona Cameron.
“Blocking illegal foreign websites safeguards Australians from potentially fraudulent operators where players have little or no recourse if things go wrong. Lottery services that are licensed and operating legally in Australia have crucial safeguards that consumers expect.”
The ACMA began making blocking requests in November 2019 and has blocked over 325 websites alleged to be operating unlawfully in Australia.
These are the first blocking orders aimed at lottery websites.
Throughout August, government agencies made their initial demands to restrict access to online platforms that endorse affiliate gambling operations.
Government representatives also disclosed that during the 2020-21 financial period, they effectively blocked access to 55 websites. They assert that this action led to a substantial 90% reduction in Australian users visiting these websites.
“We are highly satisfied with the outcomes, which demonstrate that our endeavors to combat illicit online gambling in Australia are yielding positive results,” Cameron stated.
Subscribe to the iGaming newsletter.
