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ACMA Blocks Five More Illegal Gambling Sites, Total Reaches 1,822

Ethan ClarkeBy , Regulation and Responsible Gambling Editor
Published

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has asked Australian internet service providers to block five more illegal online gambling services: Bet Ninja, Riobet188, ThePokies33, Spade69 and WinShark. The request, announced on 24 September 2026, follows ACMA investigations that found the services were operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The regulator says 1,822 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have now been blocked since it made its first blocking request in November 2019.

What changed

September’s request was the third blocking round in three months. The rounds reported since July 2026 are:

  • July 2026: ten services, including Zizobet, KingAUD, Lucky Vibe, Daily Spins, Gambiva, Hot Pokies Group, Pokies99, Betcoin, TenoBet and Lightning-bet.com. Reports noted that Lightning-bet.com appeared to imitate the licensed Australian bookmaker LightningBet. The running total stood at 1,774.
  • August 2026: two services, Casea and Crown96, with the total at 1,788.
  • September 2026: five services, Bet Ninja, Riobet188, ThePokies33, Spade69 and WinShark, with the total at 1,822.

The cumulative figure counts websites, including affiliate websites that promote illegal services, rather than brands, so it does not move in step with the number of services named in each announcement. The ACMA also reports that more than 230 illegal services have withdrawn from the Australian market since it began enforcing the current illegal online gambling rules in 2017.

Why sites get blocked

Under ACMA policy, blocking requests can cover three groups of websites:

  • prohibited interactive gambling services offered to Australians, such as online casinos, online pokies and in-play sports betting placed online;
  • regulated gambling services, such as sports wagering, offered without an Australian licence; and
  • websites that advertise prohibited or unlicensed services.

Several of the brands named since July use terms such as “pokies” or “AUD” in their names, which signals that they were marketed to Australians.

What it means for Australian players

A blocked site will usually show an ACMA notice instead of loading. Account holders at a blocked service can face problems reaching their balance, contacting support or withdrawing. Because these operators hold no Australian licence, there is no Australian regulator or dispute service that can order a payout; our page on filing a gambling complaint explains which bodies can and cannot help.

Using a VPN or alternative DNS settings to reach a blocked site does not change the operator’s legal status, and it adds risk if the account is later frozen. The specific risks are covered in our guide to VPNs and online casinos.

The August 2026 reform package will add two further measures against illegal operators: faster blocking powers for the ACMA and the ability for banks and payment systems to block transactions to illegal gambling operators. Players who deposit at offshore sites should expect more declined payments once those measures operate.

To check whether a site you use has been blocked, see our overview of ACMA blocked gambling sites, which links to the regulator’s full register.

Background

The ACMA has used blocking requests under section 313 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 since November 2019. In its 2026–27 compliance priorities, published in July, the regulator named gambling advertising as one of five enforcement areas and said implementing the new wagering advertising reforms will be one of its main focuses over the coming year.

1,822 illegal gambling and affiliate websites since its first blocking request in November 2019, according to the ACMA’s September 2026 update.

Bet Ninja, Riobet188, ThePokies33, Spade69 and WinShark.

There is no Australian regulator that can order an unlicensed offshore operator to pay out. Contact the operator directly and keep records of your account and transactions.

Sources

Header photo: BalticServers data center by BalticServers.com, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.