ACMA requests blocks for three gambling sites and outlines online ad rules

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested that internet service providers block access to three additional gambling websites following investigations into their operations under Australia's Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Alongside the enforcement action, the regulator has published initial guidance explaining how online content providers can comply with upcoming wagering advertising restrictions scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027.

The announcements highlight Australia's continued efforts to address unlicensed online gambling and strengthen consumer protections. They also provide businesses operating in the digital advertising sector with further information about the regulatory requirements they will need to consider before the new rules take effect.

ACMA targets three additional gambling websites

The latest enforcement action concerns Gday77, SpinBet and X4Bet. According to ACMA, its investigations found that the three websites were operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

Following its findings, the regulator requested that Australian internet service providers restrict access to the identified platforms. Website blocking remains one of the enforcement measures available to ACMA when addressing online gambling services that it considers to be operating unlawfully in the Australian market.

The latest announcement also reflects the regulator's broader efforts to limit access to unlicensed gambling services and encourage consumers to use operators that comply with applicable Australian requirements.

ACMA has emphasised that websites operating without the necessary regulatory authorisation may not provide the protections expected from properly regulated services. Consumers using these platforms could face financial difficulties if they encounter problems with deposits, withdrawals or access to account balances.

The regulator has also highlighted potential concerns involving personal information. Unlicensed gambling services may not offer adequate safeguards for sensitive customer information, including identity documents and banking details. This could expose users to additional risks involving misuse of personal data and identity fraud.

Website blocking reaches 1,850 services

The latest requests form part of a longer enforcement programme that began in November 2019. Since submitting its first website-blocking request, ACMA reports that 1,850 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.

The figure illustrates the scale of the challenge facing Australian authorities as they attempt to restrict access to online gambling services operating outside the country's regulatory framework.

Website blocking is not the only enforcement measure used by the regulator. ACMA has also reported that more than 230 illegal gambling services have withdrawn from the Australian market since it began enforcing additional rules targeting unlawful online gambling activity in 2017.

These measures demonstrate the importance of combining regulatory oversight with practical enforcement. Blocking access to websites can make certain services more difficult to reach, while public information campaigns can help consumers recognise the risks associated with unlicensed platforms.

ACMA continues to encourage Australians to verify whether a wagering provider is authorised to operate before creating an account, sharing personal information or transferring funds. Its register of licensed interactive gambling providers offers an official reference for checking the regulatory status of services.

Illegal Gambling Awareness Week highlights consumer risks

The enforcement announcement coincided with the inaugural Illegal Gambling Awareness Week, organised by the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).

Taking place from 9 to 13 November 2026, the international initiative aims to increase public awareness of illegal and unlicensed online gambling. It brings together regulatory organisations and other participants to encourage consumers to understand the importance of local gambling licences.

The campaign focuses on a central consumer protection message: a professional-looking gambling website does not necessarily mean that the service is legally authorised in the jurisdiction where an individual accesses it.

This distinction is particularly relevant in an online environment where operators can make their platforms accessible across international markets. Website presentation, promotional offers and familiar payment methods should not be treated as evidence of regulatory approval.

The risks associated with unlicensed gambling can extend beyond financial losses. Consumers may have limited access to appropriate complaint mechanisms and regulatory assistance if disputes arise. Questions concerning account security and the handling of personal information can also become more difficult to resolve.

Through its participation in wider regulatory initiatives, ACMA is reinforcing the importance of consumer awareness alongside formal enforcement measures.

ACMA publishes guidance on the triple lock exception

In a separate announcement, ACMA published initial industry guidance concerning the new triple lock exception for online wagering advertisements.

The exception forms part of Australia's wider gambling advertising reforms, which are scheduled to commence on 1 January 2027. Under the new requirements, online content service providers will generally be prohibited from providing wagering advertising content through their services unless they take reasonable steps to satisfy three specific conditions.

The framework is intended to establish additional safeguards around who can receive wagering advertisements and how users can control their exposure to this type of promotional content.

The three conditions are:

• Prevent access by restricted users: Providers must take reasonable steps to prevent individuals who meet the definition of restricted users from accessing or receiving wagering advertising content.
• Require registered accounts: Individuals receiving wagering advertisements must access the relevant online content service through a registered account. This means that users must be logged into their accounts when receiving the advertising content.
• Provide an opt-out option: Account holders must have an effective opportunity to stop receiving wagering advertisements through the relevant service.

These requirements form the basis of the triple lock exception. Online content providers seeking to continue offering wagering advertisements under the exception will need to consider how their systems address all three conditions.

Who qualifies as a restricted user?

ACMA's guidance also clarifies which individuals must be excluded from receiving wagering advertisements under the new framework.

Restricted users include people under the age of 18 and individuals whose ages have not been confirmed. The definition also covers people who are not using a registered account on the relevant online content service.

Individuals who have chosen to opt out of wagering advertisements are also classified as restricted users. This includes people who have exercised an opt-out option offered directly by a service provider or through the Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register once it becomes operational.

The requirements place additional importance on account management and age verification. Providers will need to consider whether their existing systems can distinguish eligible account holders from users who must not receive wagering advertising content.

The opt-out requirement is another important aspect of the framework. Account holders must have a meaningful way to exercise their preferences rather than being required to continue receiving promotional material simply because they use a particular online service.

Guidance explains reasonable compliance measures

The publication of the initial guidance is intended to help online content service providers understand the practical measures they may adopt when relying on the exception.

ACMA has outlined the types of steps that providers could consider when implementing the three requirements. It has also explained how the regulator intends to assess whether the measures adopted by individual businesses are reasonable.

This is particularly important because online content services can operate through different technologies and account structures. Their advertising systems and methods of identifying users may therefore vary.

Providers will need to assess their individual circumstances and ensure that their arrangements adequately address the restrictions. Meeting the requirements will involve more than simply introducing an account registration process or adding an advertising preference to an existing settings menu.

The regulator's assessment of reasonableness will be an important consideration for businesses preparing for implementation. Providers should therefore review their current advertising arrangements and identify areas where additional safeguards or operational changes may be necessary.

Opt-out register and provider notifications

ACMA has also indicated that it intends to publish a list of online content service providers that have implemented the triple lock system.

The proposed list is expected to help consumers identify services that have adopted the relevant arrangements. It will also provide greater transparency around the participation of online platforms in the new advertising framework.

Providers planning to rely on the exception are encouraged to notify ACMA. This will allow the regulator to keep interested businesses informed about developments concerning the Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register.

The register is an important part of the wider approach to advertising controls because it will allow individuals to express their preference not to receive wagering advertisements through participating services.

Businesses preparing for the January 2027 commencement date should therefore consider both their internal opt-out arrangements and the requirements associated with the wider register.

Conclusion

ACMA's latest announcements represent two connected elements of Australia's approach to online gambling regulation: restricting access to services identified by the regulator as operating in breach of existing requirements and establishing stronger safeguards around wagering advertising.

The blocking requests involving Gday77, SpinBet and X4Bet underline the continued attention given to unlicensed gambling activity. Meanwhile, the reported 1,850 blocked gambling and affiliate websites demonstrate the scale of enforcement activity since the introduction of the website-blocking process in 2019.

The forthcoming triple lock exception introduces another important consideration for businesses involved in online content distribution. From 1 January 2027, providers seeking to continue offering wagering advertising under the exception will need to address age-related restrictions, registered-account access and individual opt-out rights.

For the wider industry, the transition will require careful attention to regulatory guidance and appropriate operational preparations. The publication of the provider list and further information about the Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register should also help clarify how the framework will operate in practice.

Ultimately, the combined measures reflect a broader regulatory objective: reducing exposure to unlicensed gambling services while giving consumers greater control over wagering advertisements. How effectively businesses implement these requirements will be an important part of Australia's evolving online gambling regulatory environment.

FAQs

What is ACMA's latest action against illegal gambling websites?
ACMA has requested that Australian internet service providers block Gday77, SpinBet and X4Bet following investigations that found the websites operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

How many gambling websites has ACMA helped block?
ACMA reports that 1,850 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked since it made its first website-blocking request in November 2019.

What is Illegal Gambling Awareness Week?
Illegal Gambling Awareness Week is an international initiative organised by the International Association of Gaming Regulators. Its inaugural campaign runs from 9 to 13 November 2026 and focuses on raising awareness of unlicensed online gambling.

What is the triple lock exception?
The triple lock exception is a regulatory framework that allows eligible online content service providers to continue providing wagering advertisements when they take reasonable steps to satisfy three requirements concerning restricted users, registered accounts and advertising opt-outs.

When will the new wagering advertising requirements begin?
The new requirements are scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027 as part of Australia's gambling advertising reforms.

Who is considered a restricted user under the triple lock framework?
Restricted users include individuals under 18, people whose ages have not been confirmed, individuals who are not logged into registered accounts and people who have opted out of wagering advertising.

What are the three conditions of the triple lock exception?
Providers must prevent restricted users from receiving wagering advertisements, ensure recipients access the service through registered accounts and give account holders an opportunity to opt out of such advertising.

Will ACMA publish a list of providers implementing the triple lock system?
Yes. ACMA intends to publish a list of online content service providers that have implemented the system to help consumers identify participating services.

What is the Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register?
It is a register designed to allow individuals to opt out of receiving wagering advertising through participating online content services. It forms part of the wider advertising protection framework.

Why is the new guidance important for online content providers?
The guidance helps providers understand the reasonable steps they may need to take to qualify for the triple lock exception. It also explains how ACMA intends to assess their compliance arrangements ahead of the January 2027 commencement date.