‘Even if you won, you may never see your money’: ACMA cracks down on illegal gambling sites

The communications regulator shut down 18 betting sites as a result of a crackdown during the FIFA Women’s World Cup, saying some were operating akin to a scam.

ACMA said illegal gambling operators took advantage of high profile events, like the FIFA Women’s World Cup, to push their services onto Australians. Picture: Mark Stewart

Australia’s communications watchdog has removed 18 illegal gambling sites from the local market after a crackdown on illicit betting during the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority said it shut down the sites, saying some were operating services akin to a scam in which people were offered no consumer protection, meaning even if they won they may never see their money.

Overall, the regulator investigated 200 overseas betting companies during last year’s world cup, which resulted in the Matildas finishing fourth, and attracted strong interest from many Australians.

ACMA authority member Carolyn Lidgerwood said following the investigation, 18 gambling sites were found to be operating in breach of the interactive gambling act.

She said three of those services withdrew from the Australian market after receiving letters from the regulator, while telcos blocked the remaining 15 sites at ACMA’s request.

“Illegal gambling operations often take advantage of high-profile sporting events to push their services onto fans,” Ms Lidgerwood said “These sites also offer none of the consumer protections that apply to licensed wagering services in Australia. Using these sites is more than a gamble as you have no rights and even if you win you may never see the money.”

ACMA’s action follows the United Nations hearing last December that illegal betting was the “number one factor fuelling corruption in sports”, with football particularly prone to illicit activity. Even the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, has faced criminal accusations and scandals, most notably in 2015, when several FIFA officials were arrested at a Swiss hotel.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino told a UN conference that protecting football from corruption and ensuring sporting justice was the most important topic for the organisation.

“Football is a multi-billion dollar global industry which makes it a potential target for corruption and other kinds of criminal activity and that is something that we should combat to ensure that the playing field is always level,” Mr Infantino said.

Humaid Al Ameemi, co-ordinator of the anti-corruption unit of Interpol, told the same conference that the manipulation of sporting competitions was the “gateway to crime”, including money laundering and other unlawful activities. ACMA has shut down more than 900 illegal gambling and affiliate websites since 2019 and has been working with telcos to block illegal services. Meanwhile, more than 220 illicit services have withdrawn from the Australian market.

Sites blocked include Playzilla, Wazamba, Zet Casino, Slots Palace and Golden Bet.

Gamblers might still be able to access the block sites using a virtual private network.

But ACMA has again warned that unregulated sites do not offer consumer protections. People who use these sites have no comeback if they are unable to withdraw their funds or collect their winnings, the regulator said.

“Offshore wagering services present an additional risk to punters as they typically offer online in-play betting. This can involve very short-term and repetitive betting – characteristics of high-risk forms of gambling,” ACMA said.

“Website blocking is just one element of the ACMA’s strategy to disrupt illegal gambling, which includes industry engagement, targeted enforcement and public education.”