An inquiry conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has revealed that Palmerbet did not comply with BetStop's self-exclusion rules, leading to 18 months of court-imposed penalties. The ACMA reported that Palmerbet failed to deactivate a customer's account who registered with BetStop in September 2023, finally closing it only by February 2025.
Additionally, the investigation identified that between December 2024 and February 2025, Palmerbet accepted 312 bets from an individual who was self-excluded. In Australia, gambling operators are required to promptly close accounts when clients register with BetStop, and they are prohibited from offering services to self-excluded customers.
Under a court-enforceable undertaking that spans 18 months, Palmerbet must undergo an independent review of its compliance systems and processes concerning self-exclusion requirements. The operator is also responsible for funding and implementing any improvements recommended as a result of this review.
To date, Palmerbet has refunded all deposits made by clients from the point of their BetStop registration until February 2025. Should Palmerbet fail to adhere to the terms of the undertaking, the ACMA has the authority to pursue enforcement through the Federal Court.
