The Australian media watchdog, known as the ACMA, is pursuing legal action against prominent figures in the Australian poker community. Rhys Edward Jones, Diverse Link Pty Ltd, and Brenton Lee Buttigieg are facing allegations of operating illicit poker games, a clear violation of Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act of 2001.
Jones is suspected of managing these unauthorized games between March 2020 and March 2021, while Diverse Link is accused of similar conduct from March 2021 onward. Buttigieg is alleged to have played a role in promoting the games and attracting participants.
The ACMA has been diligently investigating these operations, which operated under various aliases such as PPPfish, Shuffle Gaming, and Redraw Poker. Their findings suggest that Jones and Diverse Link facilitated online poker for real money among Australians, a serious offense.
Allegedly, players could access poker clubs through a dedicated mobile application and utilize bank transfers or Bitcoin to purchase chips from external websites. These chips could then be used to participate in poker games within the app, with any winnings redeemable for cash or convertible back to Bitcoin. The ACMA is taking a firm stance, and these individuals could face substantial financial penalties if convicted.
People who violate the regulations will incur a substantial financial penalty of 2 million in Australian currency, and corporations could be subject to a massive fine of up to ten million dollars.
The Australian regulatory body tasked with upholding the prohibition on promoting or providing unlawful interactive wagering services indicated they would not provide additional statements because the case is currently under judicial consideration.
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