ACMA has been actively blocking illegal gambling websites of Dama N.V. and Softswiss
Since November 2019, ACMA has been actively blocking illegal gambling websites, having taken action against a total of 1,059 sites. The latest report from ACMA frequently highlights Dama N.V. and its various unlawful online casinos. Between October and December 2024, the authority issued blocking orders for several gambling websites that were operating outside the law in Australia. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 clearly prohibits unlicensed online casino-style games, including pokies and table games, for Australian customers. Following the implementation of new regulations in 2017, over 220 illegal services have exited the Australian market.
While the ACMA report does not directly mention certain operators, it is crucial to recognize the connections to known illegal entities. Rabidi N.V., a now-defunct operator based in Curacao, was part of a network of illegal online casinos, and its operations bear similarities to those currently under ACMA’s investigation. Dama N.V., another Curacao-based operator affiliated with the Softswiss group, is likely involved in similar illegal activities as Rabidi. The Softswiss Group has previously been scrutinized by FinTelegram, which uncovered the ultimate beneficial owners behind its illegal gambling operations: Ivan Montik (originally from Belarus), Roland Isaev (from Russia), and Paata Gamgoneishvili (also from Russia).
The actions taken by ACMA reflect increasing pressure on illegal operators, which could have repercussions for entities like Dama N.V. and others within the Softswiss network. The blocking of these websites aims to protect Australian consumers from unregulated and potentially harmful gambling services. The significant number of operators withdrawing from the Australian market indicates that regulatory measures are yielding substantial results.
ACMA’s ongoing efforts to address illegal online gambling align with global trends in regulatory enforcement. The actions against various operators highlight the risks associated with entities like Dama N.V. and the broader Softswiss group. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, operators linked to known illegal activities are likely to encounter greater challenges in maintaining their operations in regulated markets such as Australia.
