The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) welcomes today's Federal Court orders imposing $24.24 million in penalties on providers and promoters of prohibited online poker services operated under the names PPPfish, Shuffle Gaming and Redraw Poker.
The Court ordered the following pecuniary penalties for contraventions of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA):
- Brisbane Poker Pty Ltd - $15 million
- Rhys Edward Jones - $9 million
- Brenton Lee Buttigieg - $240,000
This brings the total penalties imposed in the proceedings to $29.24 million, including the $5 million penalty imposed on Diverse Link Pty Ltd in March 2023.
ACMA Chair Nerida O'Loughlin said the penalties were a significant outcome in the ACMA's work to disrupt prohibited online gambling services.
"This decision sends a clear warning that offering online poker to Australians is illegal and there are serious consequences for those who breach the law," Ms O'Loughlin said.
"Illegal gambling services put Australians at risk, and the ACMA will continue to take action against those who target these services at Australian consumers."
Today's penalties follow Federal Court findings in November 2025 that Mr Jones and Brisbane Poker Pty Ltd provided prohibited interactive gambling services in contravention of s 15(2A) of the IGA.
The Court also noted that Mr Buttigieg had admitted to contravening s 15(2A) by aiding and abetting the provision of the services.
In addition to penalties, the Court made orders restraining Mr Jones from providing a prohibited interactive gambling service and restraining Mr Buttigieg from aiding or abetting the provision of such a service for a period of 5 years.
Mr Jones and Brisbane Poker were ordered to pay the ACMA's costs for the proceedings.
The proceedings were commenced by the ACMA in April 2022 following an investigation into online poker services offered to Australians.
The Court found that the services allowed members of the public to play online poker against other players using virtual chips that could be purchased and sold for real money.
