Australia’s self-exclusion register, BetStop, is set to be reviewed as Crown Melbourne is fined for self-exclusion breaches, and the ACMA has blocked another two illegal gambling websites.
Gambling is a major public issue in Australia, affecting the health and well-being of individuals and families in a range of ways. It is estimated that Australians lose approximately $25 billion on legal forms of gambling each year, representing the largest per capita losses in the world.
It is against this backdrop that we look at some of the issues the gambling industry, bettors,and regulatory authorities are facing in the country.
The Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued blocking orders for a further two gambling websites it said have been operating in the country illegally.
Lucky Block and Rooli were both deemed to have been operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. This led the ACMA to request internet service providers in Australia to block access to the two websites.
The ACMA is the body that sets and manages rules about communications, media services and markets. They licence people, organisations and products to operate in Australia, look into problems and take necessary action when rules are breached.
The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 states that operators may only offer online gambling in Australia if they hold a licence. Such activity is limited to sports betting, horse racing and lotteries. Gaming, such as online slots and table games, is prohibited.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling practices by delinquent operators. Since ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1059 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.
Over 220 illegal operators have exited the Australian market since the ACMA began enforcing illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017.
The Australian government has appointed Richard Eccles, a former senior public servant, to conduct a review of the country’s national self-exclusion register, BetStop.
BetStop was established in August 2023 to serve as a national, unified gambling self-exclusion scheme or register available across all six federal states. The self-exclusion register is a free method for those experiencing problem gambling to exclude themselves from all online and phone betting providers advertised in Australia.
Those who sign up do so voluntarily, thus excluding themselves from opening a new gambling account. Betting companies are prohibited from accepting bets or sending marketing material to individuals who have signed up for BetStop.
Appointed by the Communications Minister Michelle Rowland to lead the review, Eccles stated that a report will be released within 18 months to inform any future policy on whether BetStop is still fit to run.
According to Australian government figures, more than 30,000 people have signed up to BetStop since its introduction in August 2023.
Based on feedback, the number of registrations to date, and evidence gleaned from similar programs, BetStop is estimated to have saved registrants as much as AU$135 million in its first year.
This review will ensure that BetStop protects Australians from gambling harms effectively.
Lastly, in Australian gambling news, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has imposed a hefty $2 million fine on Crown Melbourne for allowing 242 self-excluding individuals to gamble at its casino between October 2023 and May 2024.
The VGCCC said in a statement that it violated the Casino Control Act of 1991 (for the state of Victoria) to permit an excluded person, including those who self-exclude, to enter, remain, or gamble in the casino. This also breaches Crown Melbourne’s duty to protect individuals at risk from gambling harm.
Those who self-exclude should have confidence that gambling providers will take every reasonable measure to honour their decision as part of this harm-prevention initiative. By failing to prevent these individuals from entering and gambling, Crown exposed them to further harm. However, it’s clear that some of these patrons went to considerable lengths to bypass detection and violate their self-exclusion agreements.
The VGCCC revealed that the breaches were identified through continuous oversight of the casino’s operations and has subsequently directed Crown to engage an independent expert to assess and recommend improvements to its self-exclusion management program and required it to implement these expert recommendations in the near future.
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