Blocking cryptocurrency sites in Australia: bypass and VPN

1) Reasons for blocking cryptocurrency resources

The Australian government, through the Australian Communications and Media Commission (ACMA), actively controls the online gambling market. Many foreign BTC casinos do not have a local license, so their sites are included in the list of prohibited ones. Purpose of interlocks:

• protecting players from unlicensed operators;
• control of financial flows;
• compliance with the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

2) How site blocking is implemented

The main methods used by ISPs in Australia are:

• DNS blocking - when accessing the domain, the system redirects the request or reports an error;
• IP lock - deny access to casino servers;
• URL filtering - restriction on specific pages;
• using a blacklist system that is updated by ACMA.

These measures do not remove sites from the network, but make them inaccessible to the average user without technical skills.

3) VPN as a bypass tool

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the main way to bypass locks. It allows:

• Change the IP address to a foreign one
• Hide activity from the ISP
• access locked casinos and crypto platforms.

The most popular services are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, as they offer servers in dozens of countries and high connection speeds, which is important for real-time gambling.

4) Alternative workarounds

In addition to VPNs, Australian players use:

• Tor Browser - provides anonymity, but is inferior to VPN in speed;
• proxy servers - a less reliable method, often cannot cope with advanced locks;
• Changing DNS servers (for example, Google DNS or Cloudflare) - allows you to bypass basic locks.

5) Risks when bypassing interlocks

Although VPN provides access to platforms, players should consider:

• possible violation of local laws;
• the risk of being exposed to fraudulent sites under the guise of "alternative mirrors";
• reduced data protection when using free VPNs or unreliable proxies.

6) Practice in Australia

ACMA regularly publishes blocking reports - by 2024 their number exceeded 900 sites.
Despite the measures, the use of VPN remains widespread, especially among young people and crypto enthusiasts.
The question of whether to strengthen control remains a matter of debate, since cryptocurrency casinos often operate outside of national jurisdiction.

Result

Blocking cryptocurrency and BTC casinos in Australia is technical and not absolute. To circumvent restrictions, players use VPNs and other tools, which raises the question of the real effectiveness of such measures. For a responsible game, it is important not only to find access to the site, but also to choose reliable licensed sites, minimizing risks.