Tabcorp fined, five others found to have breached BetStop obligations

Tabcorp has been fined $112,680 and remedial directions or warnings have been handed out to several other wagering companies after the Australian Communications and Media Authority found they failed to comply with rules that protect people who registered with BetStop.

Six investigations have been completed by ACMA, which has a mandate to enforce the laws governing BetStop and the National Self-Exclusion Register.

ACMA confirmed on Thursday that, although the six 2024 cases differed, the breaches included allowing registered individuals to open wagering accounts and access wagering services, or involved marketing to registered individuals.

Tabcorp was the only one of the six fined, with a $112,680 penalty, and has entered into a court-enforceable undertaking requiring it to commission a third-party review of its customer verification processes and to improve its staff training.

If it does not comply, the publicly listed wagering giant could face further action by the Federal Court.

ACMA issued remedial directions to each of Betfocus, LightningBet and TempleBet, where each of the providers will be required to commission an independent audit of their systems and implement the resulting recommendations.

BetChamps was issued a formal warning by the ACMA, which is also finalising the enforcement action to be imposed on Picklebet.

“The national self-exclusion register is designed to help people who are trying to avoid gambling services and stop gambling, but self-exclusion only works if wagering providers follow the rules,” ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said.

“These rules have been in place for more than two years and wagering providers should be taking their responsibilities seriously.

“When people decide to self-exclude from online and telephone gambling, they trust the system to protect them from gambling harm. These investigations have found that these companies broke that trust and let people down.

“All licensed wagering providers need to be aware that the ACMA is investigating compliance and enforcing the rules. Gambling companies must have effective systems in place to ensure self-excluded people cannot gamble with them.”