Watchdog ACMA bans online gaming website CS:GO Roll for breaching Australia’s gambling laws

The site let players deposit ‘skins’ from Counter Strike: Global Offensive in exchange for coins that could be used to gamble on casino-style games.

ACMA chair Nerida O'Loughlin.

Australia’s communications watchdog has ramped up a crackdown on illegal gambling websites, issuing a formal warning to online gaming outfit Feral Holdings Limited and its CS:GO Roll website, which has been withdrawn from Australia.

An investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found CS:GO Roll was providing casino-style online games, which are illegal in Australia in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act, which has banned any online games that are played for money or anything else of value.

The watchdog’s chair Nerida O’Loughlin said that CS:GO Roll allowed its players to deposit ‘skins’ from the popular video game Counter Strike: Global Offensive in exchange for in-game coins that could be used to gamble on casino-style games.

Gaming skins are virtual clothing items or accessories used to change characters’ looks and can be won in video games or purchased via third party websites.

“Providing casino-style games online is prohibited in Australia when playing for money or something of value, whether that’s Australian dollars, cryptocurrency or in this case, online gaming skins,” ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said.

“Skins gambling services are particularly concerning as they tap into a youth market and have the potential to convert gamers into gamblers,” she said.

Feral Holdings has withdrawn the website from Australia and has been issued with a formal warning for contravening Australian gambling laws.

The CS:GO Roll website is now banned in Australia.

The company was contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline.

It comes as the Albanese government this month announced this month it would pursue draft legislation banning the use of credit cards for online gambling, and would grant the ACMA new powers to enforce the ban, which would apply to wagering services with Australian licences.

The legislation is expected to come before parliament before the end of the year.

The government said it would soon begin consulting with stakeholders on draft legislation and the technical implementation of the credit card ban, which will use bank identification numbers (BINs) to identify and block credit card payments.

Australia has the highest gambling losses per adult, with a total of $25bn in losses per annum.

Communications minister Michelle Rowland said protecting Australians from gambling harm was one of the government’s key priorities.

“It’s as simple as this: people should not be betting with money they do not have,” she said.

Social Services minister Amanda Rishworth said the government would work with state and territory counterparts to introduce further gambling reforms.

“Our government is committed to taking action in this space,” she said.

“We’ve implemented new taglines, we’re introducing BetStop and now with this latest measure we’re taking further action to help Australians who are vulnerable to harmful online wagering.”

The ACMA last month meanwhile fined online gambling giant Entain, the operator of the Ladbrokes and Neds online betting platforms, for illegal bets it took during a LIV golf tournament last year. It issued Entain the maximum infringement amount, $13,320, for taking a total of 78 illegal in-play bets on the final day of the Bangkok LIV golf tournament in October 2022.