Dabble Sports, an Australian wagering operator, has been fined AU$1,069,200 (approximately US$760,265) due to ongoing violations of the country’s self-exclusion regulations related to gambling. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) determined that Dabble Sports did not close 157 accounts associated with individuals who had opted to self-exclude from gambling activities under BetStop, the national self-exclusion program.
The investigation revealed that the company sent out 839 electronic communications to 165 customers who had self-excluded, alongside 2,000 push notifications targeting 45 individuals, without including the required information about BetStop.
ACMA's assessment highlighted several compliance failures mainly in the areas of account management and marketing practices. It was noted that many accounts remained operational long after users had requested self-exclusion. Out of 229 accounts linked to BetStop users that had no pending bets, 156 stayed open for more than a week following the users' exclusion requests. Some accounts did not comply for as long as 200 days.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, a member of ACMA, emphasized the necessity for operators to honor self-exclusion requests, stating, "providers must respect that decision" and should have effective systems in place to protect users. These comments reflect a growing regulatory emphasis on minimizing harm in online gambling, particularly regarding adherence to self-exclusion measures.
"These were serious breaches by Dabble. Wagering providers must have robust systems in place to protect people who have chosen to self-exclude," Lidgerwood commented.
Earlier this year, Tabcorp Holdings Limited, one of Australia's major wagering and media companies, was fined over AU$2.7 million for breaching telemarketing and spam regulations during a 16-month period. This included sending over 217,000 marketing emails and SMS messages within just 16 days to customers who had explicitly opted out.
In light of the penalties, Dabble Sports has committed to a two-year court-enforceable undertaking, which includes conducting an independent review of its compliance processes. The company must also create a plan approved by its board to implement necessary changes with adequate resources.
An ACMA spokesperson noted, "BetStop is an important consumer protection measure, but it only works if wagering companies follow the rules." Starting January 2027, the government will enhance the visibility of BetStop as part of an upcoming reform package for Australia’s gambling laws, ensuring better usability and increased promotional efforts. The government plans to allocate AU$28.7 million over four years to enhance data-matching systems for the register, along with an annual AU$3.2 million indefinitely to cover operational costs.
