Summary
- The ACMA identified four operators who violated self-exclusion rules, one of whom has already left Australia.
- The companies have sent marketing materials or reactivated a person's account after they were removed from the self-exclusion list.
- The ACMA has issued formal warnings and reminded stakeholders of the critical importance of complying with NSER regulations.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released a public statement highlighting violations of self-exclusion rules by four licensed operators.
ACMA names companies it found to breach NSER rules
The regulator has identified companies failing to comply with the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER), BetStop, which requires companies to block access for individuals who have registered themselves with the service. As a consequence, Buddybet, Ultrabet, VicBet, and Topbet were named for violating these rules by allowing self-excluded individuals to gamble, sending them marketing materials, or both. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) first highlighted Buddybet, which has already exited the Australian market. According to the regulator, Buddybet failed to close accounts for people on the self-exclusion list and continued to send them promotional materials. Ultrabet was found to have reopened the account of an individual immediately after their self-exclusion period ended and also sent them marketing materials. This violates national self-exclusion rules, which require that once a person self-excludes, their account must be closed promptly. Any reopening should not occur unless the person personally initiates it and is no longer registered with BetStop. Ultrabet expressed willingness to cooperate by reviewing its compliance practices, which ACMA indicated was an honest mistake that will now be corrected.
Warnings sent to companies over shortcomings in self-exclusion rules
Recently, VicBet and Topbet were issued a formal warning by the ACMA for violating self-exclusion regulations by sending marketing materials to individuals who had chosen to self-exclude. ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood emphasized the critical need for these regulations to be rigorously enforced by operators, stating: Individuals who are part of the NSER have intentionally decided to withdraw from online gambling services. Therefore, sending gambling-related marketing to those attempting to quit is unacceptable. Betting services must have mechanisms in place that honor the self-exclusion choices of individuals, or they will face further repercussions. The BetStop program has been widely acknowledged for its success, enrolling over 40,000 registrants and continuing to expand. While only a few registrants have resumed participation after their initial exclusion period ended, a significant number have opted to exclude themselves for extended durations or even permanently. (
