Offshore Companies Alerted on Regulatory Breaches by ACMA
In Aussie news, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has given a stern warning to three gambling service providers – Rooli, Lucky Block, and SlotCatalog – for breaking local regulations. The ACMA believes these firms contravened subsections 15(2A) and 15AA(3) of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA).
The ACMA alleges that these companies offered unlicensed gambling to Aussie players using an Australian customer link, which is a serious no-no under local laws. These regulations aim to keep illegal offshore operators away from our local clients.
Rooli's owners, Dama N.V. and Strukin Limited, were found to have operated without proper authorization, violating subsection 15(2A) of the IGA. Lucky Block and its owner, Igloo Ventures, offered online gambling services to Australians while boasting an Australian customer link without a license. Strictly speaking, that's a no-no as well, and it's now earned Lucky Block a warning bells-blaring rebuke from the ACMA.
As for SlotCatalog, its representative, Fedir Havlovskyi, received a warning for allowing access to unlicensed online casino platforms – another violation of the IGA.
Meanwhile, the spotlight's been shining bright on ACMA's BetStop, a national self-exclusion program. BetStop bagged the Regulatory Excellence Award from the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), thanks to its status as the first centralized self-exclusion register in Australia.
Over 30,000 Australians have registered for this important safeguard, and Nerida O'Loughlin, ACMA's chair, is rightfully proud of the team's efforts, stating, "This award is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of ACMA's staff, ensuring the success of a significant tool for gambling addiction prevention."
Last week, Australia initiated its first self-exclusion program review. With BetStop under the spotlight for its success, we're hoping for continued strides in Aussie online gambling regulation and player protection.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has warned Igloo Ventures, the owners of Lucky Block, for offering unlicensed online gambling services, a clear violation of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). SlotCatalog's representative, Fedir Havlovskyi, also received a warning for facilitating access to unlicensed online casino-games. This underscores the ACMA's commitment to enforcing gambling-trends and upholding casino-and-gambling regulations in Australia.
