BetPokies Reports: John Gold’s Take on ACMA Blocking Illegal Gambling Sites
Due to digitisation, online gambling became a popular, easy to access source for spending free time among Australians. Based on research made by The Australian Institute of Family Studies, approximately 38% of the Australian population gambles at least once a week. Due to high gambling rates, many Aussies explore multiple casinos, including those that may not be as reliable or secure as they expect. As a result, the Australian government has taken measures to address the issue.
BetPokies, which is owned by ZehrMedia LTD, was established in 2020 by John Gold, who is currently the site’s editor-in-chief. As one of the most trusted gambling-related sources in Australia that supports a responsible approach to gambling, we’ve contacted the above-mentioned creator of BetPokies to discuss ACMA’s recent blockages of casinos considered illegal in Australia.
Understanding ACMA’s Role in Regulating Online Gambling
As we’ve mentioned above, the Australian government decided to regulate its gambling market, which is done by ACMA (The Australian Communications and Media Authority) – a regulatory agency that is responsible for controlling communication and media services in Australia. Ever since 2017, ACMA’s main role is to enforce the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) 2001, that is mainly focused on keeping unlicensed operators out of the market.
The main problem the Australian government has with offshore regulators is the lack of consumer protection, including responsible gambling tools and policies, which are essential for safeguarding players and their funds. ACMA’s recent publication states:
“The ACMA is reminding consumers that even if a service looks legitimate, it’s unlikely to have important customer protections. You can check if a wagering service is licensed to operate in Australia on our register”.
Many popular online casinos, available for Australian gamblers, as, in fact, offshore, which means they operate outside Australian jurisdiction. Usually, casinos gain their licenses from such gambling regulators as Curaçao or Malta, where gambling regulations are less stringent.
As the percentage of people gambling in Australia is high, the risks of the fun hobby becoming a destructive addiction is also highly possible. When it comes to offshore casinos, Australian government’s another concern is related to the fact offshore casinos are not aiming to prevent gambling issues, lacking self-exclusion options and built-in limit setting.
John Gold’s Perspective on the Future of Australian Gambling
John Gold, the creator of BetPokies, is a gambler with more than 10 years of experience. The project he created was always focused on one goal – unbiased reviews. The team of BetPokies’ main rule is not to sell, yet to offer a gambler a product, while honestly reviewing it and providing personal recommendations on how to get the best out of your gambling experience.
John shared, that him and other experts of BetPokies recently decided to focus even more on responsible gambling practices in their reviews and guides, adding special paragraphs dedicated to responsible gambling recommendations to each of them. On their website, you can also find a comprehensive Responsible Gambling guide, made by the team of BetPokies in cooperation with psychology experts.
The page is full of recommendations, programs, and support services a gambler with addiction may need. There, you will also find a test that helps you recognise a possible issue.
Previously, we’ve heard of possible collaborations of BetPokies with such self-exclusion tools as BetBlocker and GamBan. In this collaboration, BetPokies, as a source that works with casinos, could provide the self-exclusion services with information about gambling websites, specifically about their new URLs after the casinos get blocked by ACMA.
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