# Offshore betting sites: why they are illegal and how ACMA blocks them > Why unlicensed offshore betting sites are illegal in Australia, how ACMA blocks them and the penalties it cites. Plain summary with dated sources. Source: https://bookiechecklist.com/illegal-offshore-bookmakers/ Updated: 2026-11-13 Offering online wagering to people in Australia without an Australian licence is unlawful under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, and ACMA blocks illegal sites and lists them. It applies to operators, advertisers and anyone who helps customers reach such services, including through links. Source: ACMA, 22 October 2026 release and Act s 15AA, checked 13 November 2026. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. ## Why unlicensed sites are illegal Online wagering in Australia is lawful only with a licence from a state or territory authority. The ACMA register of licensed interactive gambling providers lists those licences. A service that is not on it has no Australian licence. A licence from another country does not change this, because the register lists Australian licences. Online casinos, pokies and online poker are banned outright, and so is advertising them. These are the legal boundary here, not an offer from this site. **Where this stands:** unlicensed wagering is unlawful, and a foreign licence is not an Australian one. ## How ACMA blocks sites ACMA blocks illegal gambling sites and publishes a list of blocked websites. The list includes affiliate marketing sites, not only the operators themselves. Its media release of 13 December 2023 reports 893 sites blocked from November 2019. A current total is Not confirmed on 2026-11-13, because this edition has not read the live list. From 1 January 2027, ACMA can issue removal notices to site owners, authors and hosting providers, with a 24-hour deadline unless ACMA sets another. It can also issue link deletion notices to search engines. [The 2026 Act](https://bookiechecklist.com/gambling-reform-act-2026/) also adds payment blocking for illegal sites. **Where this stands:** blocking is live today; removal and link deletion notices begin on 1 January 2027. ## Penalties ACMA cites **Penalty amounts · ACMA release of 2026-10-22, penalty unit A$364 · checked 2026-11-13** | Conduct | Penalty units | Amount cited | |---|---|---| | Advertising an illegal service, civil penalty per breach | 180 | A$65,520 | | Facilitating access, such as hyperlinks, individual | 7,500 | A$2,730,000 | A penalty unit has been A$364 since 1 July 2026. Older ACMA pages still show A$59,400 and A$2,475,000, which use the earlier A$330 unit. Both pairs describe the same 180 and 7,500 units. In 2026 ACMA also issued warnings to an influencer on 7 July and to two former AFL players on 22 October for promoting an illegal service. On 6 July the Federal Court set A$24.24 million in penalties for illegal online poker. **Where this stands:** two amounts are cited from ACMA's 22 October 2026 release, and the penalty unit changed on 1 July 2026. ## Why this site names none ACMA states that links and redirects to illegal services count as facilitating access. This site therefore names no offshore betting service and links to none. Every operator we ever list has to appear on the ACMA register on the day of checking. If a page elsewhere names a betting brand, you can check it in [five steps](https://bookiechecklist.com/check-bookmaker-licence/). To read the warning signs, see [spotting an illegal betting site](https://bookiechecklist.com/spot-an-illegal-betting-site/). **Where this stands:** no illegal service is named or linked anywhere on this site. ## What you lose off the register BetStop covers licensed providers only, so an exclusion there does not reach an unlicensed site. See [BetStop explained](https://bookiechecklist.com/betstop-explained/). The sources read here do not say what recourse a customer has against an unlicensed operator, so we do not state one. To report a site, use ACMA's complaint form. **Where this stands:** self-exclusion does not reach unlicensed sites; recourse against them is Not confirmed on 2026-11-13. ## Sources - [ACMA: Protect yourself from illegal gambling operators](https://www.acma.gov.au/protect-yourself-illegal-gambling-operators) - [ACMA: Blocked gambling websites](https://www.acma.gov.au/blocked-gambling-websites) - [ACMA: Former footballers warned, 22 October 2026](https://www.acma.gov.au/articles/2026-10/former-footballers-warned-promoting-illegal-gambling-site) - [ACMA: Federal Court sets $24 million in penalties, 6 July 2026](https://www.acma.gov.au/articles/2026-07/federal-court-sets-24-million-penalties-illegal-online-gambling-services) - [ACMA: interactive gambling complaint form](https://www.acma.gov.au/interactive-gambling-complaint-form) - [Interactive Gambling Act 2001, compilation of 14 October 2024](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00851/latest/text) ## 18+ and where to get help 18+ only. Gambling can be harmful. Need help? Call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 (free, 24/7) or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. To exclude yourself from licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers, register with BetStop at betstop.gov.au. We are not a bookmaker and do not take bets. ## FAQ **Is it legal to use an offshore betting site from Australia?** Offering online wagering without an Australian licence breaks the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (s 15AA). The sources read describe penalties for operators, advertisers and anyone who helps people reach such services. They do not say what happens to a person who bets, so that point is Not confirmed on 2026-11-13. **How does ACMA block these sites?** ACMA blocks illegal gambling sites, including affiliate marketing sites, and publishes a list of blocked websites. It reported 893 blocked from November 2019 to 13 December 2023; a current figure is not confirmed. **Why does this site name no offshore sites?** ACMA treats hyperlinks to illegal services as facilitating access. Penalties it cites reach A$2,730,000 for an individual, so this site neither names nor links to them. **How do I report an illegal site?** ACMA runs an interactive gambling complaint form. The link is in the sources below. **Does BetStop cover offshore sites?** No. BetStop covers licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers only, so exclusion there does not reach unlicensed services.