Online casino advertising complaint lodged in Australia

The Australian national radio program AM is reporting an interesting case where a reformed Aussie pokies addict has reported the internet All Slots Casino to the Australian Communications and Media Authority for illegal advertising.

But All Slots is located in Belize and licensed in Kahnawake (Quebec, Canada), raising the question of how much international reach the Authority has.

Tom Cummings alleges the online casino is breaking the law by targeting Australians with its advertising and its online gambling services. He says that the operator flaunts an Australian identity and bills itself as the ‘top online casino in Australia’.

He told AM that advertising and providing online casino websites and services in Australia is prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act, but that there has traditionally been a lack of enforcement in this regard.

Whilst playing a game of Solitaire on his cellphone recently Cummings was surprised when a pop up ad which linked to an online casino appeared, offering a sign-up bonus in return for his business.

Cummings, who is now an anti-gambling advocate, lodged a complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

“Although it’s not an Australian company, the website has a page which displays the Australian flag and claims that it’s the top online casino in Australia,” he said.

AM reports that the Authority says it’s assessing the complaint against All Slots Casino, which did not respond to requests for comment.