Australia is doubling down on its efforts to crack down on illegal online gambling with the launch of a new cell to disrupt illegal operations, understand scams, and gauge the harm caused by scams. This comes amid a rise in illegal gambling-related scams.
Scambling Is a Pervasive Issue
The National Anti-Scam Centre announced the creation of a new time-limited task force that will be tasked with stopping online gambling fraud. Described as the center’s “latest cross-sector fusion cell,” the new division will crack down on scambling – an increasingly common form of fraud.
Scambling is, as one might guess, a combination of the words scam and gambling. It refers to fraudulent online gambling and casino websites that either manipulate results, withhold winnings, and incentivize players into inviting friends. Oftentimes, their platforms look legitimate, tricking consumers into believing they have an actual chance of winning. Users of such websites regularly find their withdrawals blocked and sometimes they are even asked to make further payments.
To top it all off, First Nation Australians seem to be disproportionately affected by such scams. According to the report, more than 45% of the scambling complaints in 2025 originated from First Nation Australians.
In 2025, there were a total of 806 scambling reports, up from 677 in 2024. However, the reported figures might only be scratching the surface of the true extent of the harm caused by scambling operations.
Australia Hopes to Understand How to Stop Scambling
ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe noted that the new task force will seek to better understand the scambling scams and find ways to protect players. Lowe added that the true extent of the harm caused by scambling is still unknown, as not all victims are aware that they have been scammed and that the task force will also be responsible for understanding the bigger picture.
The fusion cell’s work will create a clearer picture of how the scams operate, the impact they’re having on Australians, the factors that are enabling them and how they can be disrupted.
ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe
In order to truly tackle the issue, the scambling fusion cell will bring together law enforcement, government agencies and regulators, digital platforms, banks, telecommunications providers and frontline community services. These organizations will join forces to research scambling and find and trial ways of disrupting such operations. To that end, the task force will work closely with affected players.
According to the announcement, the fusion cell will run until December 9, 2026. Its findings are set to be published next year.