Australia launches new national self-exclusion registration
Australians at risk of gambling damage will be able to exclude themselves from all licensing interactive betting services with the launch today of the BetStop – National Self Exclusion Register.
BetStop is targeted at all Australian licensed interactive betting service providers, both online and phone-based, which means they are unable to open an account, accept bets from self-excluded individuals, or transmit marketing materials.
Australians will be able to exclude themselves for at least three months and a lifetime by registering for free and one interaction.
Betting service providers are required to promote BetStop to customers through marketing materials, including websites and apps. To promote BetStop, the Australian Communications and Media Authority will run a public awareness campaign.
BetStop is the final step in the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Waging, and two other measures, gambling messages and betting staff training, took effect on March 30 this year.
The Commonwealth will continue to work with states and regions to reduce the damage caused by online betting.
ACMA is responsible for regulating BetStop operated by IXUP Limited. BetStop has been extensively tested and tested to provide a safe and reliable environment for users.
To complement the BetStop rollout, the government will also introduce a customer pre-verification mandate, which will require betting service providers to identify customers when they register new accounts and before they place bets.
This replaces the customer identification requirements within 72 hours, and BetStop enhances the protection of citizens such as minors or new registrants who have been excluded.
The requirement is expected to be in effect by the end of September 2023.
The two measures - BetStop and customer pre-verification - form part of the government's ongoing commitment to minimizing harm and were recommended in the final report of a parliamentary inquiry into the impact on online gambling and gambling victims delivered in June.
The BetStop rollout and the introduction of customer pre-verification are based on the Albanian government's commitment to ban credit card use in online betting and to strengthen the classification of gambling-like features in video games, including loot boxes and mock gambling.
The government is also already implementing mandatory monthly activity statements to make it easier for those engaged in online betting to see their wins and losses, providing consistent staff training across the country and a new evidence-based tagline to replace "gambling responsibly."
I quote the Secretary of State for Communications, MP Hon Michelle Rowland:
"The Albanian government is working to minimize gambling damage to vulnerable Australians. So I am pleased that the National Self Exclusion Register has officially been launched.
"BetStop will change lives for the better, giving Australians at risk of gambling the support they need to exclude themselves from interactive licensing bets.
"BetStop is the last of 10 measures to be implemented under the National Consumer Protection Framework for online betting.
Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, I quote the Minister of Social Services:
"With the introduction of BetStop, all measures under the national consumer protection framework will be realized, and in just over a year, significant measures provided by our government will be taken.
"These measures will help minimize the damage we see as a result of online gambling. For many people, it will change their lives.
"We know that minimizing the harm caused by online gambling is not set, and we look forward to working with state and local representatives on what to do next to sustain this positive change."