Self-Exclusion Deficiencies Cost Dabble More than $1M in Australia

Dabble Sports Pty Ltd has been penalized more than AUD 1 million ($713,425) after an Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found multiple failures involving customers registered with BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion scheme. This enforcement action pressures the nation’s gambling sector to ensure self-exclusion requests provide consistent protection. Hundreds of Excluded Individuals Received Marketing Messages Dabble agreed to pay AUD $1,069,200 and commission an independent review of its compliance systems. The company will fund any changes recommended by this initiative. The ACMA investigation found that Dabble failed to close 157 wagering accounts held by customers registered with BetStop. Under Australian law, operators must terminate an account as soon as possible when the owner opts for self-exclusion. According to ACMA, the operator continued to send promotional emails to excluded individuals. 165 customers reportedly received 839 SMS messages, emails, and app push notifications. Dabble was also accused of marketing violations. Forty-five excluded individuals received more than 2,000 push notifications that did not include BetStop information, as required by self-exclusion rules. These were serious breaches by Dabble. Wagering providers must have robust systems in place to protect people who have chosen to self-exclude. ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood Dabble received a court-enforceable undertaking to ensure compliance with the new requirements. If the operator breaches the terms of the agreement, ACMA may take it to court and force the company to honor its commitments. However, the threat of potential legal action is usually sufficient to ensure compliance. BetStop Breaches Will Soon Have Harsher Penalties ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood was especially concerned about these findings. She noted that customers who sign up with BetStop have made the conscious decision to step away from online wagering. She added that betting firms need effective systems to identify self-excluded customers and prevent further contracts. Failures to close accounts or suppress marketing can defeat the system’s purpose. The Dabble case is the latest in a recent series of enforcement actions against gambling operators. In July, the regulator cracked down on TAB after uncovering that 351 VIP customers had received promotional messages despite being on the self-exclusion register. TAB’s parent company Tabcorp acknowledged the deficiencies and vowed to take corrective measures. BetStop is an important consumer protection measure, but it only works if wagering companies follow the rules. The ACMA will take action where wagering providers fail to meet their obligations. ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood These cases align with Australia’s ongoing efforts to introduce harsher penalties for BetStop violations. New laws, expected to take effect on January 1, 2027, will significantly increase the penalties for operators that breach the self-exclusion requirements. ACMA is also taking measures to block illegal offshore operators from targeting Australian customers, as they often lack meaningful protections.