Australia’s media regulator has ordered internet providers to block six more unlicensed gambling sites, pushing the number of offshore casinos and affiliates restricted since 2019 past 1,700.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has blocked six more offshore casino and gambling websites, lifting the total restricted since its blocking programme began to 1,708 illegal gambling and affiliate sites as of May 2026. The latest action targets operators reaching Australian players without a local licence, and signals a shift toward smaller, affiliate-driven sites rather than the well-known brands targeted in earlier waves.
Key Facts:
• ACMA has restricted 1,708 illegal gambling and affiliate websites since the blocking scheme began in November 2019 — ACMA
• The latest six sites — Play Jonny, ACO96, TCL99, Waboom77, Wonaco and WooSpin — were found in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 — ACMA
• More than 230 services have voluntarily exited the Australian market since 2017 — ACMA
• Influencers face fines of up to AU$2.4 million for promoting illegal offshore gambling — ACMA
What just happened?
ACMA asked Australian internet service providers to block the six sites at the domain name system (DNS) level, the same enforcement method it has used repeatedly since late 2019. Each operator was found to be supplying regulated gambling services to Australians without authorisation under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. None of the six holds an Australian licence; they are unlicensed offshore operators, placing them outside any local consumer-protection framework.
The 2026 actions mark a tactical change. Earlier blocking rounds focused on large, recognisable offshore brands, while the latest targets are smaller operations that lean on affiliate marketing and social media to reach Australian gamblers.
Why it matters for players and operators
For the industry, the blocks reinforce Australia as one of the world’s more aggressive jurisdictions against unlicensed operators, narrowing the grey-market space that competes with licensed businesses on price. The enforcement push mirrors concern about the global scale of unregulated online gambling, which dwarfs licensed activity in many markets.
For players, the consumer-protection gap is the core issue. Unlicensed sites typically lack responsible-gambling tools, guaranteed withdrawal processes and any dispute recourse. Where those operators accept cryptocurrency, the transactions fall entirely outside Australian regulatory protections — unlike licensed operators, which must structure any crypto payments within the authorised framework. A blocked DNS entry does not freeze customer balances, so players on a restricted site can find funds stranded.
What happens next?
ACMA has signalled that the blocking cadence will continue, with ongoing investigations into operators and the affiliate networks that funnel traffic to them. The regulator is also leaning on payment disruption and influencer enforcement to choke off marketing pipelines. The pivot toward a licensed model elsewhere — including neighbouring New Zealand’s move to a licensed iGaming framework — adds pressure on offshore operators that have long treated the region as open territory. Full details of the latest order are published on the regulator’s website. (ACMA)
FAQ
Q: How many offshore gambling sites has ACMA blocked?
A: 1,708 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been restricted since the blocking programme began in November 2019, including the six most recent sites blocked as of May 2026.
Q: Are the blocked casinos illegal in Australia?
A: Yes. Each was found supplying gambling services to Australians without a licence, in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
Q: Can players recover money held on a blocked site?
A: Often not. Unlicensed offshore operators offer no guaranteed withdrawals or dispute recourse, and a DNS block does not release customer funds.
Gambling carries financial risk and can be addictive. If you or someone you know needs help, visit GamCare (UK), call 1-800-GAMBLER (US), or see our Responsible Gambling page.
