ACMA Issues Warnings and Concludes Investigations as 2023 Nears End

Article by : Milena Petrovska Dec 28, 2023

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While everyone’s been preparing for the holiday season, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has been busy working.

Namely, ACMA has issued several warnings to betting companies as they were found guilty of breaching interactive gambling rules. According to the regulator, three companies used “Fast/Quick Codes” to offer in-play betting on various sports events.

Moreover, ACMA has concluded some investigations this December and issued formal warnings to brands breaching its rules.

In-play Betting Still Forbidden in Australia

Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001 states that in-play betting is not allowed. One of the few exceptions to the rule is betting via phone calls. However, the bookmakers bet365, Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, and Neds used the so-called Fast/Quick Codes to allow punters to wager via their apps rather than phone calls.

Fast/Quick codes are given to clients via the websites or apps of betting providers. They record the events, bet selections, and bet types of in-play wagers. To confirm the bet, customers just need to call the operator and cite the fast/quick code.

The three bookmakers above used these codes for every particular in-play bet.

As such, ACMA concluded that instead of the bets being concluded fully over the phone, the call was just a formality for the bet. Hence, it found the bookmakers guilty. They were required to take necessary steps to make sure that their fast/quick codes comply with the laws.

Several Warnings Issued to Gambling Providers as Well

Gambling providers also caught ACMA’s attention. Friolion Limited, Dama N.V., Mad Entertainment N.V., and Paloma Media B.V. were issued warnings for breaching IGA rules.

The formal warnings by ACMA stated that all of the companies breached Section 15(2A) of the IGA. This section states that an entity must not provide an interactive gambling service that features an Australian customer link.

ACMA commenced its investigation into these operators in September and found all operators guilty. Each of the companies offered services with Australian customer links via certain online wagering sites.

Mad Entertainment breached the rules via the Golden Lion brand. Friolion Limited breached the rules via the Greenspin.bet, Greenspin1.bet and Slotman brands. Dama N.V. breached the rules via the Greenspin.bet, Greenspin1.bet, Slotman JeetCity4 and JeetCity5 brands.

Paloma Media B.V. was also guilty of breaching Section 15AA(3), which states that an entity cannot offer its services in a State or Territory that authorizes that specific service without owning a license. Paloma breached these sections via the Thunderpick brand.

ACMA Remained Active Throughout 2023

Throughout 2023, ACMA made sure to let all operators know that they must abide by the rules. Best Bookies was among those that got hit the hardest. In September, Best Bookies was found guilty of providing unlicensed wagering services.

ACMA noted in the warning that wagering operators must carefully investigate partnerships with third parties to make sure that they comply with IGA. Those that are not in line with the rules will have their legal obligations compromised.

Just a month before Best Bookies was under fire, ACMA ordered the blocking of five offshore gambling websites. Just Casino, Play Fina, Comic Play Casino, Viperspin, and Betandplay were found guilty of operating illegally in Australia.

Then, ACMA requested to block two additional brands in October – Wild Blaster and BetUS.

According to ACMA’s statistics, more than 890 gambling and affiliate websites were found guilty of offering illegal services. The same brands have been shut down since November 2019 as the authority continues its crackdown on unlicensed operations.