The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is issuing an order calling for local internet service providers (ISPs) to block several offshore lottery sites that have been illegally serving Australian customers. It’s the first time that lottery operators have been targeted under the terms of the country’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
After a lengthy investigation, authorities at the ACMA found that We Love Lotto and Red Fox Lotto had been selling Aussies tickets to international lotteries. Neither site has a license to sell lottery tickets in Australia thus, both sites were found to be operating illegally in the country.
In a statement posted on the ACMA website, Authority member Fiona Cameron bluntly stated, “We Love Lotto and Red Fox Lotto are both operating illegally in Australia, meaning there are no consumer safeguards in place for players.”
“Blocking illegal offshore sites protects Australians from potentially dodgy operators, where there is little or no recourse if things go wrong. Lottery services that are licensed in Australia and operating legally have important safeguards that consumers expect,” she added.
Though hundreds of casino-style sites have been blocked by ACMA actions in the past, We Love Lotto and Red Fox Lotto are the first lottery sites to earn blocks.
Blocking illicit site has been an effective tool for the ACMA in recent years. A recent data point from the Authority states that blocked sites see a 90 percent reduction in Australian traffic.
Blocking lottery sites is a happy day at the office for Cameron, who concluded her public statements saying, “We are very pleased with the outcome and it shows that the steps we are taking to combat illegal online gambling in Australia have had a positive impact.”