Illicit online gambling services slapped with $24 million in penalties
Three providers and promoters of prohibited online poker services have been fined a combined $24.24 million by the Federal Court.
Brisbane Poker Pty Ltd, Rhys Edward Jones and Brenton Lee Buttigieg were ordered to pay penalties of $15 million, $9 million and $240,000, respectively, for contraventions of the Interactive Gambling Act.
They operated under the names PPPfish, Shuffle Gaming and Redraw Poker.
According to the court findings, the services allowed members of the public to play online poker against others using virtual chips that could be purchased and sold for real money.
Jones and Brisbane Poker provided prohibited interactive gambling services, while Buttigieg aided and abetted the provision of the services.
In addition to penalties, the court made orders restraining Jones from providing a prohibited interactive gambling service and restraining Buttigieg from aiding or abetting the provision of such a service for a period of five years.
The court ruling followed the legal proceedings initiated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in April 2022.
This brings the total penalties imposed in the proceedings to $29.24 million, including the $5 million penalty imposed on Diverse Link Pty Ltd in March 2023.
ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the penalties were a significant outcome in the work to disrupt prohibited online gambling services.
“This decision sends a clear warning that offering online poker to Australians is illegal and there are serious consequences for those who breach the law.
“Illegal gambling services put Australians at risk, and the ACMA will continue to take action against those who target these services at Australian consumers,” O’Loughlin added.
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