Gambling body issues warning to punters as online casino activity soars

THE closure of casinos and pubs because of coronavirus has seen a 300 per cent jump in Aussie gamblers trying their luck online in dodgy offshore casinos.

But gamblers who use the illegal sites have been warned they risk losing not only their winnings when the overseas casinos shut down but also having their bank accounts emptied.

Data shows traffic to the offshore casinos, many based out of the Caribbean island of Curacao, Malta and Cyprus, has soared – and could be costing state governments up $400 million in lost taxes.

NSW Office of Responsible Gambling director Natalie Wright said: “Overseas gambling websites are illegal in Australia, and people who use them face additional risks than when they gamble with a licensed Australian operator.” to

The Alliance for Gambling Reform said Australians had saved $1.5 billion since casinos, pubs and clubs were closed down on March 23. However, Google Trends has seen searches for “online casinos Australia” and “online poker” quadruple in the same time.

The Star CEO Matt Bekier said: “There was anecdotal evidence of growth in overseas online casino activity and we sought material confirmation.”

He said a data snapshot taken from more than a dozen sites showed traffic to some offshore casinos had jumped by up to 300 per cent. “The reality is these sites are illegal in

Australia, accessible.

“They’re unregulated and there is no shortage of stories about people who bet and win only to find they can’t withdraw the money.

“They also create no jobs for Australians, accept credit card deposits and pay no taxes.” yet they’re easily