In 2025, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the government body responsible for overseeing online gambling and telecommunications, announced that the number of blocked domains linked to illegal gambling had surpassed 1,200. For the Australian market, this represents one of the largest figures recorded since measures against unlawful gambling activities were introduced.
According to ACMA, more than 220 operators have exited the Australian market since 2017 following the introduction of measures targeting illegal gambling. At the same time, the number of blocked resources exceeded 1,200 domains by mid-2025.
At first glance, the news appears to be just another announcement about website blocks. In reality, it reflects a structural transformation of the market. Each new wave of restrictions reduces the presence of websites operating outside ACMA requirements and existing gambling regulations. At the same time, the share of operators focused on transparent account verification, payment controls, and age-verification procedures continues to increase.
The distribution of advertising budgets, game portfolios, and user traffic is changing as well. More players are comparing the conditions offered by licensed operators before registering and making their first deposit.
Against this backdrop, attention is increasingly focused on businesses operating within the legal segment of the industry. For example, in one article covering the Australian market, Rolling Slots Casino was highlighted as an example of how transparent customer-service policies and clear gaming conditions are becoming increasingly important in an era of tighter regulation.
Only a few years ago, many users viewed illegal websites as a genuine alternative to licensed brands. Since the number of blocked websites surpassed 1,200, the situation has gradually changed. For operators, trust has become the most valuable asset, while for players, predictable conditions and fast financial processing have become key priorities.
The market is entering a new phase. Although a large number of websites remain available, the requirements governing their operation have become considerably stricter. As a result, analysts view the milestone of 1,200 blocked domains as evidence of a long-term transformation of the Australian online casino sector.
How Website Blocks Are Changing Player Behaviour in Australia and Beyond
Following successive waves of restrictions, a portion of the audience has begun migrating to licensed operators. For many players, the most important factor is no longer website accessibility but the level of fund protection and the transparency of operating conditions. Topics such as licensed casinos and player protection are discussed far more frequently today than they were several years ago.
Previously, many illegal operators attracted customers through aggressive promotions with unclear withdrawal conditions. Today, competition is gradually shifting towards service quality and transparent participation rules. Against this backdrop, offers such as the Rolling Slots bonus have become part of a broader battle for player trust.
According to industry analysts, in regulated jurisdictions that have strengthened enforcement measures, between 15% and 35% of players gradually migrate to licensed brands. For players, this means clearer withdrawal policies, transparent limits, and standardised account-verification procedures.
The impact on users is highly practical. The number of platforms offering opaque payment systems is declining. At the same time, there is a growing proportion of operators focused on player safety and long-term operations within regulated environments. While this trend is particularly visible in Australia, similar developments are already occurring across many regulated markets worldwide.
Table: Market Changes Following Increased Website Blocking
| Indicator | Before Active Blocking Measures | After 1,200+ Blocks |
| Share of Unlicensed Sites in Search Results | High | Lower |
| Account Verification | Often Absent | Standard Practice |
| Transparency of Bonus Terms | Highly Variable | More Standardised |
| Payment Security | Inconsistent | Strengthened |
| Availability of Formal Complaints | Limited | Greater Within the Licensed Sector |
Who Benefits From the Mass Closure of Illegal Operators?
When the number of blocked websites exceeds 1,200, revenue redistribution begins almost automatically. Most players continue gambling through operators that meet regulatory requirements and can demonstrate possession of a valid casino licence.
Licensed brands benefit more than anyone else. Competitive pressure from companies previously operating without meeting many mandatory requirements is reduced. As enforcement becomes stricter, concepts such as licensed operators and gambling compliance continue to gain importance because they increasingly serve as competitive advantages.
The banking sector also gains additional opportunities. The more transactions processed within regulated environments, the easier it becomes to monitor financial flows. A similar trend can be observed among providers of anti-fraud solutions, identity-verification services, and companies specialising in financial monitoring.
Game-content providers also benefit. Many developers of slots and table games are gradually reducing cooperation with illegal platforms. As a result, high-quality game portfolios are increasingly concentrated within the licensed segment of the market.
For players, the changes are most noticeable during registration and identity verification. Many modern casinos have introduced multi-step verification processes. For example, when using Rolling Slots login, users may be required to complete additional document and residential-address verification in accordance with regulatory requirements.
According to various industry studies, the legal sector in regulated jurisdictions often grows by 10–30% within several years following stronger enforcement measures. Exact figures vary depending on the country, the effectiveness of blocking mechanisms, and the level of regulatory enforcement.
Table: Impact of Website Blocking
| Market Participant | Before Stronger Enforcement | After Stronger Enforcement |
| Licensed Casinos | Strong Competition From the Grey Market | Increased Market Share |
| Banks | Limited Transaction Oversight | More Transparent Payments |
| Game Providers | Distribution Through Multiple Channels | Shift Towards Regulated Markets |
| AML Providers | Limited Adoption | Growing Demand |
| Verification Services | Moderate Demand | Rapid Growth |
| Players | Large Number of Platforms | More Transparent Conditions |
| Betting Industry | Fragmented Structure | Greater Consolidation |
What Will Happen to the Black Market After 1,200 Website Blocks?
European experience demonstrates that following major waves of website blocking, the grey market rarely disappears entirely. Instead, traffic is typically redistributed among new domains and existing offshore casinos that continue seeking ways to reach local audiences.
One of the most common methods involves mirror websites and domain-name changes. At the same time, alternative payment routes continue to develop as a way to bypass payment-blocking measures. However, as gambling restrictions become stricter, customer-acquisition costs increase and the volume of available casino traffic gradually declines.
The Dutch experience shows that within two to three years of large-scale blocking measures, the share of the licensed market can increase by 20–30%. Similar developments have previously been observed in Germany and several other European countries.
Historical Parallels: What Happened in Europe and Why Australia Is Following a Similar Path
Australia’s measures against illegal gambling are not unique. Similar processes have taken place across many regulated European markets. After surpassing the milestone of 1,200 blocked resources, Australia is effectively following a path previously adopted by several major jurisdictions.
One of the most widely cited examples is the Netherlands. Following the introduction of updated licensing requirements and a series of gambling reforms, a significant proportion of operators were forced to adapt their business models to the new regulatory framework. During the early years, the market experienced traffic redistribution, but the licensed sector subsequently began steadily increasing its audience share.
Germany went even further. After introducing new requirements, many companies faced additional restrictions relating to products, marketing, and financial operations. Regulators focused not only on operator oversight but also on responsible gambling measures.
The United Kingdom also increased pressure on operators. Requirements related to customer verification, bonus transparency, and player-spending controls became stricter. As a result, major licensed brands gained additional advantages over smaller competitors.
According to the UK Gambling Commission, the licensed sector continues to dominate the British market and controls the majority of regulated online gambling activity. In the Netherlands, the Kansspelautoriteit recorded gradual growth in the market share of licensed operators during the first years following regulatory reforms.
Across all three countries, a similar pattern emerged several years after reforms began. The market gradually moved towards what analysts describe as market consolidation. This refers to a situation in which a significant proportion of players become concentrated around a limited number of major operators.
Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act also plays an important role. This legislation forms the foundation of most modern restrictions targeting illegal online gambling.
Professional industry discussions increasingly feature content such as a Rolling Slots review, where assessments focus not only on game selection but also on compliance with modern regulatory requirements.
Which Technologies Will Generate Growth Over the Coming Years?
As regulation becomes stricter, investment is increasingly directed towards technological infrastructure. Demand is growing particularly strongly for customer-verification systems, transaction-monitoring tools, and player-behaviour analytics. For operators, these solutions have become an essential component of operating within modern regulatory frameworks.
One of the fastest-growing areas is the automation of financial oversight. Secure payment technologies make it possible to identify suspicious activities more quickly, while artificial-intelligence systems analyse thousands of transactions within seconds. Within the digital gambling sector, these tools are already widely used by international operators.
Additional attention is being directed towards self-exclusion mechanisms. Regulators increasingly require that players be able to restrict their access to gambling through unified interfaces.
Table: Average Investment Growth by Technology (2023–2025)
| Technology | Average Investment Growth |
| AML Monitoring | +28% |
| KYC Systems | +31% |
| AI Behavioural Analytics | +45% |
| Biometric Identification | +24% |
| Self-Exclusion Systems | +22% |
| Analytics Platforms | +27% |
| Payment Security | +30% |
Who Will Become Stronger by 2030 and What Could Australia’s Market Look Like?
If current trends continue, Australia’s gambling market is likely to become significantly more concentrated by 2030. Most players will be distributed among a limited number of large licensed companies.
According to forecasts from several international research agencies, the global online gambling market could grow by an average of 8–12% annually through the end of the decade. A significant portion of that growth is expected to occur within regulated jurisdictions that have high levels of digitalisation.
The greatest advantages will belong to large betting operators with sustainable financial models. For these businesses, the costs associated with customer verification, transaction monitoring, and regulatory compliance will represent a smaller proportion of total expenditure than for smaller competitors.
For players, changes will primarily relate to service quality. More transparent withdrawal policies, standardised identity-verification procedures, and fast payment systems are gradually becoming industry standards.
Reputation is also becoming increasingly important. Players are spending more time reviewing customer feedback before registering. This is why sections containing Rolling Slots testimonials and similar player assessments are becoming valuable sources of information when choosing a casino.
The outlook for the legal sector remains positive. Regulators continue developing oversight mechanisms, operators continue investing in security, and technology providers continue gaining new growth opportunities. As a result, the market is gradually moving towards a model where trust, transparency, and regulatory compliance play the most important roles.
Under current Australian regulations, gambling participation is restricted to individuals aged 18 years and older. Additional information about regulatory developments and market changes can be followed through industry research and specialist analysis, including resources such as rollingslots-au.com
