Almost half of the Australians registered to self-exclude from all licensed online and telephone wagering operators are under the age of 30, the latest Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) figures have revealed.
Since it was created in August 2023, the national platform known as BetStop has received more than 28,000 registrations.
ACMA says younger Australians have embraced the concept more than any other demographic, with around 80 per cent of people registered under the age of 40.
This is broadly reflected of the demographics of those involved in wagering online.
The federal government launched Betstop as part of a scheme to reduce problem gambling and gambling-related harm.
The register, already adopted in many other countries, was among the measures recommended by a national consumer protection framework.
BetStop allows gamblers to register at no cost and exclude themselves from operators for anywhere between three months and a lifetime.
The number of registrants has more than doubled since November with around 40 per cent committing to lifetime self-exclusions.
Fewer than 20 per cent of registrants chose the minimum period of three months, while more than 14 per cent have already extended or reactivated their self-exclusion period.
ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said that the register’s first year of operation shows Australians want to manage their gambling behaviour.
“Online gambling can cause a great deal of harm to individuals, their families and friends, so it’s encouraging that so many people have decided to take the step and register to self-exclude,” she said.
"Younger Australians, in particular, are making early decisions about the role that online gambling will play in their lives.
“Many people are also choosing to nominate someone to support them.
“Stopping online gambling can be a difficult decision to make - having someone to support you can make the decision much easier.
“And many people are committing to long-term change, with a high percentage of people choosing to exclude for life.”
Compliance with increasing reforms by state and federal authorities to curb problem gambling has become an accepted part of the Australian wagering landscape.
A blanket ban on credit card use to fund betting accounts came into force in June and operators face heavy fines for ignoring their regulatory requirements.
Wagering firm Tabcorp received a $4.6 million fine last week from a Victorian regulator after it was found to have breached its responsible gambling obligations.
"Younger Australians, in particular, are making early decisions about the role that online gambling will play in their lives."- Nerida O’Loughlin
Between late 2022 and early 2023, Tabcorp engaged in a direct marketing campaign with a customer who had disputed their opting out from August 2020.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission said the record fine sent a clear message to the gambling industry and reflected the severe nature of Tabcorp’s misconduct.
New Tabcorp chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the consequences of initiatives such as BetStop, a credit card ban and a potential ban on gambling advertising would be factors that all wagering operators had to consider when trying to identify future growth opportunities.
“We're totally committed to regulatory reform and safe environments, and that any impact on the business is accepted as part of our outlook going forward,” he told investors during an earnings call on Wednesday.
Tabcorp cited increased regulatory expenses hurting its balance sheet as it posted a $1.36 billion loss during the 2023-24 financial year.
“As the regulatory environment continues to tighten, the cost of regulatory matters and compliance costs also meaningfully increased year-on-year,” chief financial officer Mark Howell said.
BlueBet/Betr CEO Andrew Menz said the number of customers opting to use BetStop via their platform had declined in recent months, but id say it had made a mark on earnings.
“From a BetStop perspective, I think it's fair to say that the industry was surprised initially at the number of customers going into BetStop and I do believe that this is one of the causes for some softness in total industry turnover,” he told an earnings call on Thursday.
“We've seen that really drop off, in terms of new registrants onto BetStop into much more manageable numbers and we're very, very strong supporters of a national register. We've advocated for a long time that this come in and I now think it's absolutely doing its job.”
Warwick Barr
