Betstop: The Register Allowing Aussies To Self-Exclude from Online Gambling

Five years after the legislation was first introduced to parliament, Australians will soon be able to ban themselves from online gambling companies.

In a recent announcement from the Federal Government, the register, which has been dubbed ‘BetStop’, will apply to every state and territory across the country.

In this article, we explore what the national self-exclusion register is, how it will work, what it means for online gambling sites, and when the register will officially launch in Australia.

What is the national self-exclusion register (BetStop)?

The national ‘BetStop’ scheme is set to allow individuals to self‑exclude from all online gambling sites.

By completing a single form, the program will replace disparate systems in different states and territories that have been labelled as ineffective—mainly because they fail to include all bookmakers.

Background to BetStop

In 2018, then Communications Minister Paul Fletcher introduced legislation to create a national register to allow Aussies to ban themselves from online gambling companies. The scheme was plagued with delays, and despite industry support, it’s taken five years to come to fruition.

The original company that was working on implementing the program, Big Village Australia, has since gone into voluntary administration.

What the register means for gamblers

For Australians struggling with gambling addiction, the ability to sign up to a national register is a game changer.

The register will enable people who consider themselves to have a gambling problem to stop themselves from betting at online casinos. They can also choose to self‑exclude from online wagering on sports and racing.

Nerida O’Loughlin, Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), said the measure is an important step in helping Australians to change their gambling habits.

How BetStop will work

The register is a free service for all Australians. Individuals can voluntarily select to exclude themselves from online betting companies. When signing up, they can choose to exclude for as little as three months or opt for a permanent exclusion, giving them control to address their gambling issues.

Registering will prevent people from accessing any online gambling services. It will also stop people from being able to create any new online gambling accounts, and they’ll be blocked from receiving any form of advertising or marketing material from betting sites for the entire exclusion period they choose.

BetStop is designed to help those most at risk of gambling harm take control of their gambling. It aims to give problem gamblers the power to block themselves from all licensed online and phone wagering services through one simple form, reducing barriers to taking action.

Online betting companies

The new scheme is set to apply to all 150 licensed online betting companies across Australia, including online and phone wagering services.

All licensed interactive wagering services will need to prevent gamblers from opening new accounts during their chosen self‑exclusion period. Online wagering services will also no longer be allowed to accept any bets or send any type of marketing material to anyone on the register.

Under the new rules, online wagering providers will also need to actively promote the BetStop scheme via their website, mobile app or any other marketing channels. A public awareness campaign is also expected to be rolled out to raise awareness about stronger consumer protections and how BetStop is designed to help vulnerable consumers.

Stronger consumer protections

The launch of the BetStop register follows a formal parliamentary report that looked into betting reform measures. Recommendations included a ban on online betting advertising to be phased in over three years.

Providers will now be required to verify a customer’s identity when registering for a new account before that customer can place a bet. This replaces the previous requirement allowing identity verification within 72 hours.

The rollout of BetStop is said to complement other recent betting reform measures, including new warning messages about gambling harm featured at the end of betting ads.

Launch date

The Federal Government has announced that Australia’s first national self‑exclusion register for online gambling will launch on 21 August this year as part of a national consumer protection framework.

Responsible gambling

At Play It Safe, we only recommend an Australian online casino if it is fully licensed and regulated. We support casinos that provide player support and promote responsible gambling practices to reduce online gambling harms.

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