Dabble Sports, an Australian wagering operator, has incurred fines amounting to AU$1,069,200 (US$760,265) due to ongoing non-compliance with BetStop, the nation’s self-exclusion register. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced the penalties on Wednesday, following the company's failure to close 157 accounts belonging to customers who had signed up for the self-exclusion program.
The ACMA's findings highlighted that Dabble Sports sent 839 electronic messages to 165 individuals who had self-excluded, and an additional 2,000 push notifications to 45 customers, neglecting to include the necessary BetStop information.
ACMA's investigation brought to light several key compliance failures centered on account management and marketing practices. It was revealed that numerous inactive accounts remained open well beyond the period requested for exclusion by users. Of the 229 accounts connected to BetStop users, 156 continued to be active seven days after the self-exclusion requests were made, with some accounts remaining non-compliant for up to 200 days.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA member, emphasized the criticality of honoring self-exclusion choices, stating, "providers must respect that decision" and should maintain robust systems. Her comments reflect a growing regulatory emphasis on reducing harm in online gambling, particularly as adherence to self-exclusion regulations is increasingly scrutinized.
“These were serious breaches by Dabble. Wagering providers must have robust systems in place to protect people who have chosen to self-exclude,” Lidgerwood noted.
Earlier this year, Tabcorp Holdings Limited, a major player in Australia's wagering and media landscape, faced fines exceeding AU$2.7 million for violating telemarketing and spam regulations over a 16-month period. This resulted from sending over 217,000 marketing communications to customers who had previously unsubscribed, which ACMA deemed significant enough for enforcement actions due to the volume and timing of these messages.
In the wake of the fines, Dabble Sports has committed to a two-year court-enforceable undertaking that includes commissioning an independent review of its compliance systems. The company is required to draft a board-approved plan to implement necessary changes with adequate resources.
An ACMA spokesperson remarked, “BetStop is an important consumer protection measure, but it only works if wagering companies follow the rules.” As part of a broader reform package aimed at revising gambling laws in Australia, BetStop will receive enhanced promotion beginning January 2027. This follows a statutory review in which the government pledged to improve system usability and strengthen promotional initiatives. The funding allocated to ACMA for marketing BetStop totals AU$28.7 million over four years, with ongoing annual support of AU$3.2 million aimed at improving data-matching systems.
