The Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA) recently issued cautions to numerous internet gaming providers for breaching gambling rules.

One firm reprimanded was Mad Entertainment, the owner of the Golden Lion online casino. Their inquiry found that Golden Lion was providing casino-type games to Australians without the required permits and had promotional content explicitly targeting Australian gamblers.

Paloma Media’s esports wagering platform, Thunderpick, was also discovered to be in violation of the regulations. They were available to Australian users for a time despite lacking an Australian license.

Dama and Friolion Limited, the businesses behind the Betibet platform, also received official warnings because Australian internet users could access their site.

This wasn’t the only violation for Dama and Friolion Limited. Dama was also cautioned for permitting Greenspin, Slotman, and Jeetcity to function in Australia without licenses, while Friolion was flagged for Greenspin and Slotman as well.

These actions emphasize that, under Australian legislation, even if only a single customer is physically present in Australia, a website is deemed to have connections to Australian clients and must adhere to the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act (IGA).

Online platforms offering real-money wagering, encompassing both games of pure luck and skill-based contests with monetary rewards, fall under the classification of gambling operations. To ensure equitable gameplay for all participants, the ACMA (short for the Australian Communications and Media Authority) maintains a registry of authorized gambling entities on its digital platform. These companies have undergone thorough scrutiny and approval by official regulatory bodies in jurisdictions such as New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Victoria, and Queensland.

However, licensing isn’t the only consideration. In a recent development, prominent operators like Ladbrokes, Neds, bet365, and Sportsbet faced repercussions for alleged non-compliance with regulations governing in-play wagering. It appears the regulatory landscape is tightening its grip on the industry.