The pokies.78: What Australians Should Know About the Likely Website

What is the pokies.78?

The search phrase is similar to the domain thepokies78.net. Third-party coverage has associated that address with a service called The Pokies, but that association does not establish who owns the domain today or whether its current content matches historical descriptions.

A domain is an address used to identify a website. Small differences in spelling, numbers or punctuation matter: a similarly named address is not automatically the same website or evidence of the same operator.

For clarity, the search phrase, the likely domain and the operator are separate questions. The first is an informal search term; the second appears in ACMA’s records; the third remains unverified.

• Search phrase: the pokies.78, whose precise meaning is uncertain.
• Likely related domain: thepokies78.net, listed by ACMA.
• Current operator and content: not independently verified.

What ACMA’s block establishes

ACMA included thepokies78.net in its report on websites blocked during October–December 2023. The domain also appears on the regulator’s blocked gambling websites list.

The historical report grouped illegal gambling and affiliate services together. It does not give an individual block date for the domain or establish its operator. The listing is nevertheless a significant regulatory warning about the exact address.

A blocking record should not be overstated. It is not, on its own, a fraud conviction or proof of who controls the domain now. Equally, if a website is accessible, that does not establish that its operator is authorised to offer its services in Australia.

ACMA’s list can change, so check the current entry rather than relying on an old screenshot or an article about a similarly named site.

Are online pokies legal in Australia?

Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, providers cannot offer prohibited online casino services, including real-money online pokies, to customers physically in Australia. The important question is what service is being provided and where the customer is located, not whether the website uses an Australian-sounding name.

An offshore base or a claimed overseas licence does not override that Australian prohibition. Nor do Australian-dollar prices or a website that can be reached from Australia establish permission to offer online casino pokies.

This does not mean that every form of gambling or every pokie machine is banned. Land-based gaming is a separate matter regulated by states and territories. The rule described here concerns providers of prohibited online services; it should not be read as a claim that a customer automatically commits an offence by visiting or playing. Anyone needing advice about their own circumstances should obtain independent legal advice.

The current content of the likely domain was not verified, so the general rule should not be treated as a finding about exactly what the site offers today.

How to check a licence claim

ACMA’s register can help readers check Australian-licensed interactive wagering providers. It includes details such as trading names, licence holders, URLs and licensing authorities. Use those details to check the actual company and service, rather than relying on a familiar-looking logo.

The register’s purpose matters. A licence to provide a permitted wagering service is not permission to offer online casino pokies to people physically in Australia. A foreign licence claim should likewise be checked with the issuing regulator, but even a genuine foreign licence does not make prohibited online casino services lawful to provide in Australia.

When checking a claim, look for the company name, licence status, permitted activity and relevant website address. A licence displayed on a page may relate to a different business or service. No current licence for the exact 78 domain was independently established for this article.

Is the likely website legitimate or safe?

There is not enough verified information to endorse thepokies78.net. ACMA lists the domain as blocked, while its current ownership and licence were not verified. Those facts warrant caution without requiring a claim that every allegation about the site is true.

ACMA warns that customers of illegal gambling operators may have difficulty obtaining help if winnings are withheld or they are treated poorly. That is a consumer-protection risk, not proof that a particular person has been denied a payment.

The following checks can help you assess claims about a website, but they cannot make a prohibited service lawful or guarantee that an operator will pay.

• Compare the full domain with ACMA’s blocked list. A different number or spelling creates a different address; absence from the list is not proof of safety or legality.
• Identify the claimed provider and independently check any licence with the regulator said to have issued it. Check what the licence permits and whether it covers the relevant address.
• If reviewing any service, read its current terms for identity checks, fees, withdrawal limits and bonus conditions. The terms for the 78 domain were not verified.
• Do not rely on a polished design, testimonials or Australian currency as evidence of authorisation. HTTPS indicates an encrypted connection, not regulatory approval.

Does the Digibrite warning identify the 78 domain’s operator?

No. In a separate 2025 formal warning, ACMA identified Digibrite S.R.L. as the provider of a service called The Pokies at thepokies111.net during its investigation. ACMA found that the company had provided prohibited interactive gambling services to customers physically present in Australia.

That warning does not identify thepokies78.net. The 2023 record for the 78 domain and the 2025 warning about the 111 domain are separate findings. Shared branding and numbered addresses are not enough to establish that the same company operated both, either historically or now.

What to do if you have paid or shared personal details

Sharing payment or identity details does not by itself prove that a scam has occurred. If you suspect fraud or misuse, however, act promptly rather than waiting for the situation to resolve itself.

Scamwatch recommends contacting your bank or card provider immediately and stopping further payments. Tell the provider what information you shared and follow its advice about protecting your accounts. Recovery or a refund cannot be guaranteed.

Keep useful records, such as transaction details, messages and the exact website address. They may help your financial institution or a reporting agency understand your concern. Avoid sending additional identity documents or money while you are trying to verify what happened.

• Contact your bank or card provider immediately if financial details may have been misused.
• Contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 if you need help responding to possible identity misuse.
• Report a suspected scam to Scamwatch. You can also raise a concern about an illegal gambling service with ACMA.

Gambling support and self-exclusion

If gambling is affecting you or someone close to you, the National Gambling Helpline offers free, confidential support on 1800 858 858, 24 hours a day. Gambling Help Online also offers support.

BetStop is a free national self-exclusion service for Australian-licensed online and phone wagering providers. It does not apply to online casino games or other gambling services illegally provided in Australia, so it should not be assumed to block the 78 domain.

Non-cash games are a different category from real-money online gambling, but they are not necessarily free of spending. ACMA notes that some social-casino games offer optional in-game purchases. Check a product’s actual features and spending controls rather than assuming that a free download means no purchases are available.

FAQ

What is the pokies.78?

It appears to be a search for thepokies78.net, a domain ACMA lists among blocked gambling-related websites. The punctuation in the search phrase differs from the address, however, and there is no definitive evidence that every searcher means that domain.

Is the likely website legitimate?

There is insufficient verified information to endorse it. ACMA lists the likely domain as blocked, and its present operator and licence were not independently verified. The blocking record is a regulatory warning, not by itself proof of every possible fraud allegation.

Can providers offer online pokies legally in Australia?

Providers cannot offer prohibited online casino services, including real-money online pokies, to customers physically in Australia. An offshore location does not change that rule. Land-based pokies are a separate regulatory matter, and the provider prohibition should not automatically be treated as a finding about an individual customer’s conduct.

How can I check a related website?

Compare the exact address with ACMA’s blocked list and independently check the claimed provider and any licence with the relevant regulator. A missing entry on the blocked list does not prove a service is safe or lawful. Similar branding or a different numbered address does not establish common ownership.

Does ACMA’s Digibrite warning cover the 78 domain?

The 2025 warning names Digibrite S.R.L. and thepokies111.net; it does not identify thepokies78.net. It therefore does not establish who operated the 78 domain in the past or who controls it now.

What should I do if I have already deposited money?

If you suspect fraud or misuse, contact your bank or card provider promptly, stop further payments and consider reporting the concern to Scamwatch. Keep transaction records and messages. If identity details may also have been misused, IDCARE can provide assistance on 1800 595 160. A refund is not guaranteed.

Will BetStop block an illegal online casino?

BetStop covers self-exclusion from Australian-licensed online and phone wagering providers. It does not apply to illegally provided online casino games and should not be relied on to block a particular domain. For confidential gambling support, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858.