After receiving numerous complaints, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has asked for internet providers in the country to block thepokies.net, an illicit iGaming website that, according to the ACMA, is raking in tens of millions per month.
In a recent press release, the ACMA said that thepokies.net was subject to an investigation that revealed it was operating online casino games—iGaming has been banned in Australia since the Interactive Gambling Act was introduced in 2001. The site is said to field over 30,000 monthly visitors.
Since 2017, the ACMA has blocked over 500 of these illegal sites, but officials said that thepokies.net is probably the largest and most significant to be discovered.
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said in a statement that the site is “clearly doing a lot of harm to the Australian community,” and that “complaints have ranged from people who have lost significant amounts of money through to the site refusing to honor deposits and winnings.”
In addition to thepokies.net, the authority also requested that the following sites be banned by internet providers as well: Bedroom, Jet Casino, Space Lilly, Azure Hand, Abo Casino, 777Bay and Katsu Bet.
