ACMA targets Curaçao casinos

Two Curaçao operators just felt Canberra’s heat.

Hollycorn N.V. and Dama N.V. received formal IGA warnings for serving Australians without a licence.

Legal suppliers stay in the game, while violators face blocks, fines, and reputational ruin.

Review geo-controls and licensing status now, before ACMA knocks next.

ACMA Fires a Double Warning Shot at Offshore Casinos, Signalling a Fiercer 2025 Crackdown

Key Points

• ACMA warned Hollycorn N.V. (Neospin) on 16 April 2025 after an eight-week investigation.
• It then warned Dama N.V. (Spirit Casino) on 26 March 2025 for similar breaches.
• The regulator blocked 61 illegal sites and issued 12 warnings in Q1 2025 alone.

ACMA’s Latest Enforcement Move

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issued back-to-back formal warnings to Hollycorn N.V. and Dama N.V. The notices fall under section 64A of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Each letter cites multiple violations of subsection 15AA(3), which forbids unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services that have an Australian customer link.

Hollycorn’s Neospin brand offered in-play betting and casino games to users physically in Australia. Investigators confirmed the site lacked any state or territory wagering permit. Dama’s Spirit Casino presented similar games of chance and skill to local players. Both companies operate from Curaçao and hold Antillephone licences that Australia does not recognise.

Understanding the Legal Trigger

The Interactive Gambling Act aims to protect Australians from unlicensed online wagering. Subsection 15AA(3) states that offering a regulated service to customers in Australia without an Australian licence is illegal. Violations carry civil penalties exceeding A$1.7 million per day for corporations.

ACMA’s section 64A warnings serve as the final written notice before heavier measures—ISP blocks, payment blocking requests, or Federal Court action—take effect.

2025: A Year of Intensified Action

ACMA’s quarterly report shows 22 investigations completed between January and March 2025, all resulting in adverse findings. Twelve formal warnings and 61 website-blocking referrals followed.

Since blocking powers began in 2019, ACMA has forced Australian ISPs to block 1,210 illegal gambling and affiliate domains. Moreover, 220 offshore brands have withdrawn voluntarily from the market.

These numbers illustrate a strategic escalation. The regulator now targets repeat offenders and parent companies rather than single URLs, aiming to disrupt entire corporate groups.

Implications for Global Operators

Offshore brands often rely on Curaçao or Kahnawake certificates, believing they cover multiple territories. However, Australian law demands a local state or territory licence. Therefore, any operator without such approval risks enforcement—even if it blocks Australian sign-ups with weak IP filters.

Payment processors also fall under scrutiny. ACMA can ask banks to halt transactions linked to black-market casinos. Consequently, PSPs must vet clients against the growing IGA blacklist.

Compliance Playbook for 2025

• Audit traffic sources. Use advanced geolocation tools, not simple IP ranges.
• Strengthen KYC checks. Detect Australian residential addresses hiding behind VPNs.
• Update terms of service. Explicitly ban Australian play and outline account-closure steps.
• Monitor ACMA releases. New warning lists drop each quarter; immediate action reduces risk.
• Seek legal advice. State wagering permits remain rare but essential for long-term access.

Industry Response

Some Curaçao operators plan to geo-block Australia permanently. Others explore Northern Territory sports-book licences, though the bar is high. Meanwhile, regulated Australian operators support ACMA’s stance, arguing that illegal competition erodes consumer protections and tax revenue.

ACMA’s twin warnings against Hollycorn N.V. and Dama N.V. confirm a tougher 2025 enforcement agenda. Offshore operators ignoring Australia’s licensing rules now face blocks, fines, and brand damage. Staying compliant demands proactive geofencing, rigorous KYC, and constant legal monitoring—a small price to keep a lucrative yet tightly policed market in play.