Australians are being lured into fake online gambling and casino platforms that manipulate results, withhold 'winnings' and incentivise users into recruiting others, prompting the National Anti-Scam Centre to launch its latest cross-sector fusion cell targeting this emerging scam known as 'scambling'.
"These scams create legitimate-looking online gambling platforms to convince consumers to deposit money for supposed gambling services, often before blocking withdrawals or demanding further payments," ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.
"The National Anti-Scam Centre's latest fusion cell will seek to better understand these scams which appear to target vulnerable communities and reduce the prevalence of scambling to protect consumers."
Scamwatch data indicates scambling is disproportionately affecting First Nations Australians. In 2025, over 45 per cent of reported losses came from consumers who self-identified as First Nations.
Scamwatch received 806 scambling reports in 2025, up from 677 in 2024, while reported losses more than tripled from about $449,000 in 2024 to $1.6 million in 2025. However, the National Anti-Scam Centre warns that these figures understate the true scale of harm. This view is shared by frontline agencies that have engaged with consumers affected by scambling.
"Given the nature of this scam, we believe scambling is significantly underreported because people may think they have lost money through gambling, rather than through a scam," Ms Lowe said.
"We need to understand how these scams are targeting First Nations communities so that we can prevent this from happening," Ms Lowe said.
"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," Ms Lowe said.
The scambling fusion cell will bring together law enforcement, government agencies and regulators, digital platforms, banks, telecommunications providers and frontline community services.
These organisations will work together to identify how scambling platforms operate, how they succeed on digital platforms, and where prevention and disruption efforts can have the greatest impact on protecting consumers. A key element in building understanding will be engaging with impacted communities.
The group will trial initiatives to disrupt scambling across digital platforms as well as raise consumer awareness and strengthen support pathways for consumers impacted by this scam.
The scambling fusion cell is scheduled to run until 9 December 2026. A report on the outcomes of the fusion cell will be published in 2027.
Fusion cells are time-limited taskforces designed to bring together expertise from government and the private sector to take action to address specific, urgent scam issues. The scambling fusion cell is the fourth fusion cell coordinated by the National Anti-Scam Centre.
Further details about fusion cells are available here.
The National Anti-Scam Centre continues to work with partners across sectors to analyse emerging threats, raise awareness, and implement targeted interventions that disrupt scams before they reach consumers.
Gambling scams
Licensed online gambling operators in Australia can offer sports and race betting and lotteries. Any site that offers online casino games, real-money pokies or in play betting is an illegal service in Australia. More information can be found via ACMA about the Interactive Gambling Act.
Scambling involves fake online casino or gambling websites designed to deceive people into paying for supposed gambling services.
These platforms manipulate outcomes and do not pay genuine winnings. Some may offer small early payouts to build trust and encourage further deposits.
People are often targeted through links shared on social media or messaging services, with offers such as small deposits, sign-up bonuses or high potential returns.
Once someone signs up, they may be prompted to make repeated low-value payments, often to multiple PayIDs.
Some platforms offer referral incentives, encouraging people to recruit friends, family or community members.
These scams may also collect personal and identification information, which can be used for identity theft or money laundering.
Positive reviews or a professional-looking website or app doesn't mean a service is genuine.
A legal gambling platform won't require users to pay more money to unlock winnings, recover losses or prove their identity.
Example of a gambling scam platform
Example of a gambling scam platform offering referral incentives
Stop. Check. Protect. to stay safe from scambling
STOP
- Stop before signing up to any online gambling or betting service.
CHECK
- Use the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) website to check if a gambling platform is legal in Australia before you sign up or pay money. If it's not legal, you're not protected and it could be a scam.
PROTECT
- Don't share identity documents unless you are certain you are dealing with a regulated business in Australia.
- Never use your personal bank account to move money on anyone else's behalf. This could be money laundering.
- If you've had money or information stolen by a scambling platform:
- Stop sending money immediately, even if the platform says this is the only way to release your winnings.
- Contact your bank or payment provider immediately.
- Change your passwords if you created an account or shared login details.
- Report the scam to Scamwatch (select 'another type of scam' when asked to describe the scam), or by calling the ACCC's First Nations infoline on 1300 303 143.
