Australia
Thousands of Australians sign up to the new National Self-Exclusion Register
BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register – is making a big difference to Australians at risk of experiencing online gambling harm, with almost 10,000 people registered since its launch in August 2023.
The vast majority of registrants are under 40 years of age and the most common registration period is for a lifetime, demonstrating the importance of this initiative for young Australians who are worried about how online gambling is affecting them.
More than 1,200 people have also been nominated as support persons – people who have been put forward by registered users as someone who can help them get through their self-exclusion period.
BetStop covers all Australian licensed interactive wagering service providers–both online and telephone-based – and prohibits these providers from opening an account or accepting a bet from self‑excluded individuals, or sending them marketing material.
Australians are able to self-exclude from a minimum of 3 months to a lifetime, by registering free-of-charge and in a single interaction. To date, most registrations are taking less than 5 minutes, highlighting that this is a quick and easy way for people protect themselves from gambling harms.
Wagering service providers must promote BetStop, including on their websites and apps, and via marketing material to customers.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is currently monitoring compliance by industry with BetStop to ensure self-excluded individuals are not able to open new accounts and do not receive marketing materials.
Complementing BetStop, the Government has also introduced mandatory pre-verification. This means wagering companies must verify a customer’s identity when they register for a new account and before they can place a bet. This strengthens protections for underage Australians and those self-excluded through BetStop.
Gambling harm has a significant impact on individuals, communities, and the nation, and taking the step to self-exclude is a big step for many people.
Australia has the highest gambling losses per adult in the world, with a total of $25 billion in losses every year.
Online gambling is growing in Australia, including due to ease of access through mobile devices. In less than 10 years, participation in online gambling has more than doubled, equating to approximately 3.5 million Australian adults. Around one million online gamblers in Australia are at risk of, or are experiencing, some degree of gambling harm.
As part of its harm minimisation agenda, the Government also recently introduced legislation to ban the use of credit cards for online wagering.
For more information visit www.betstop.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“The Albanese Government is committed to minimising the harms associated with gambling online.
“That’s why we launched BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register – in August this year as the final measure of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering.
“It’s fantastic to see BetStop making a big difference to nearly 10,000 Australians.
“If you or someone you care about need support, I strongly encourage you to visit the BetStop website to learn more about the Register and the many other supports available”.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
“Our Government is focused on preventing and minimising the harm caused by online wagering and we’ve taken a number of positive steps towards achieving that goal.
“It’s great that BetStop is already having such a positive impact, along with our other measures such as new evidence-based taglines that Australians would have seen on rotation on their screens and radios.
“Pre-verification is also assisting in ensuring people aren’t finding workarounds to bet if they have opted to exclude themselves from online wagering.
“We know minimising the harm caused by online wagering is not a set and forget exercise and our Government is working closely with our state and territory counterparts on what comes next now all measures under the National Consumer Protection Framework have been implemented.”
Australia
Kayo in Breach of Gambling Advertising Laws
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found that sports streaming service Kayo, provided by Hubbl Pty Limited (Hubbl), breached gambling advertising rules by presenting gambling advertisements during live sports events outside allowed times.
The ACMA investigated Hubbl following complaints from viewers relating to live streams of a number of sporting events on Kayo. Gambling advertisements must not be shown by online content providers during live sport events between 5 am and 8.30 pm, including in the five minutes before and after the event.
The ACMA’s investigations identified 16 different gambling advertisements were provided outside the allowed times across a total of 267 live sport events. Hubbl said that this was caused by a system error that affected viewers using iOS applications in a six week period over February and March 2023.
ACMA Authority member Carolyn Lidgerwood said the scale of the error as well as Hubbl’s failure to identify a system bug affecting the playout of gambling ads across a large number of live sport events was very concerning.
“Online streaming services as well as broadcasters all have a responsibility to put robust systems in place so that they adhere to these long-standing gambling advertising rules,” Ms Lidgerwood said.
“The rules are there to reduce viewer exposure to gambling ads, particularly for impressionable young audiences and those vulnerable to gambling harms. In this case Hubbl has let those viewers down.”
The ACMA has issued Hubbl with a remedial direction requiring it to arrange an external audit of its technical systems and processes, including the measures that it has implemented subsequent to the breaches.
If Hubbl fails to comply with the terms of the remedial direction it may be ordered by the Federal Court to pay penalties of up to $626,000 per day.
The post Kayo in Breach of Gambling Advertising Laws appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
ACMA Blocks More Illegal Offshore Gambling Websites
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal offshore gambling websites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include A Big Candy, Jackpoty and John Vegas Casino.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 995 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.
Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Offshore Gambling Websites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
Tabcorp Appoints Gillon McLachlan as MD & CEO
Australian gambling services firm Tabcorp Holdings has appointed former Australian Football League (AFL) boss Gillon McLachlan as its chief executive and managing director.
The appointment comes months after former chief Adam Rytenskild resigned over allegedly using “offensive” and “inappropriate” language at the workplace and as the firm navigates a strategic transformation amid heightened competition pressures.
McLachlan was the AFL chief executive for a decade during which he contributed to significant revenue growth and oversaw its expansion.
He will join Tabcorp on Aug. 5 and assume the roles of CEO and MD upon receiving regulatory approvals, the company said. He will receive an annual fixed remuneration of AU$ 1.5 million.
“In the two years since demerger, we have significantly improved our customer offering and delivered key structural reforms in Queensland and Victoria,” Tabcorp Executive Chairman Bruce Akhurst said.
“Gill brings an added dimension of having been responsible for some of the most significant media rights deals in Australian sports history and we’re excited about the potential growth opportunities for our wagering and media business under his leadership,” Bruce Akhurst added.
The post Tabcorp Appoints Gillon McLachlan as MD & CEO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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