Dabble Sports, an Australian wagering operator, has faced penalties amounting to AU$1,069,200 (US$760,265) after failing to adhere to regulations regarding the BetStop self-exclusion register.
On Wednesday, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) determined that Dabble Sports neglected to close 157 accounts belonging to individuals who had registered for self-exclusion. Additionally, the company sent 839 electronic messages to 165 self-excluded individuals and issued approximately 2,000 push notifications to 45 customers that did not include the required BetStop information.
The investigation highlighted multiple compliance issues, particularly concerning how accounts were managed and marketed. Several accounts remained open for extended periods despite users requesting to be excluded. Specifically, 156 out of 229 accounts without pending bets remained linked to users in the BetStop program for over a week after their self-exclusion. Some accounts were non-compliant for durations exceeding 200 days.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, a member of ACMA, emphasized the critical need for operators to respect self-exclusion choices. "Providers must respect that decision and must have robust systems in place," she stated. Her comments reflect an increasing regulatory emphasis on harm minimization in online gambling, closely monitoring compliance with self-exclusion protocols.
“These were serious breaches by Dabble. Wagering providers must have robust systems in place to protect people who have chosen to self-exclude,” Lidgerwood asserted.
Earlier this year, Tabcorp Holdings Limited, one of Australia’s largest wagering and media companies, was fined over AU$2.7 million for violating telemarketing and spam regulations. ACMA found that Tabcorp sent more than 217,000 marketing emails and SMS messages within a 16-day window to customers who had opted out.
In light of its penalties, Dabble Sports has committed to a two-year court-enforceable undertaking. This agreement requires the company to conduct an independent review of its compliance systems and to create a board-approved plan for the necessary changes.
An ACMA spokesperson reiterated the importance of BetStop as a consumer protection measure, which remains effective only if wagering operators adhere to established rules. As part of ongoing reforms to gambling laws in Australia, BetStop will receive further promotion starting in January 2027. The government has promised to enhance system usability, increase marketing efforts for BetStop, and fund ACMA initiatives to recover operational costs from industry participants.
To support improvements in data-matching systems, the register will be allocated AU$28.7 million over four years, with AU$3.2 million allocated annually thereafter.
