Australia’s national self-exclusion scheme, BetStop, is being positioned as a central pillar of the country’s gambling harm framework — but regulators have cautioned it cannot operate as a standalone solution.

ACMA Review Highlights Progress and Limits

An independent review commissioned by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has assessed the performance of BetStop since its launch in August 2023 under amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.

The review, led by public health expert Richard Eccles, concluded that BetStop is fulfilling its core objective of providing a nationwide self-exclusion mechanism. However, it warned against viewing the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER) as a “silver bullet” for rising gambling addiction rates.

Since launch, BetStop has recorded 53,300 registrations. Of these, 34,266 users remain actively self-excluded.

Communications Minister Anika Wells welcomed the findings, stating that the scheme is making a “meaningful difference” in protecting vulnerable Australians.

Lifetime Exclusion and Youth Uptake

The review revealed:

  • 38% of users opted for lifetime self-exclusion
  • 62% selected six-month or one-year bans
  • 79% of registrants are under 40 years old

By state, usage was highest in New South Wales (17,000 users), followed by Victoria (14,500) and Queensland (11,000).

Notably, around 4,000 participants have extended their exclusion period, while 5,800 reactivated self-exclusion after expiry — patterns regulators say may signal ongoing harm cycles.

Awareness Remains Low

Despite its national rollout, public awareness remains limited:

  • Only 26% of Australian adults know about BetStop
  • 34% of recent gamblers were aware of the register
  • Just one in 10 registrations were prompted by a third party

The review found that individuals with a nominated “support person” were significantly more likely to choose lifetime exclusion (70% versus 56%).

As a result, ACMA is considering:

  • Introducing a mandatory three-month minimum exclusion period
  • Requiring support person nomination at registration
  • Strengthening reactivation checks
  • Expanding integration with land-based gambling venues

Call for Tougher Marketing Restrictions

Of significant urgency, the review recommends tightening gambling marketing rules to reinforce BetStop protections.

It proposes that:

  • All licensed operators must automatically block marketing to anyone registered on BetStop
  • Marketing exclusions should remain in place even after self-exclusion lapses
  • Re-subscription to marketing should require explicit, unprompted consent
  • Clear legal definitions of “marketing material” should include push notifications and social media promotions

The recommendations place direct pressure on the Albanese government’s stalled gambling advertising reforms.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously declined to progress a proposed three-year phased ban on gambling advertising, recommended in a landmark parliamentary report led by the late MP Peta Murphy.

Instead, reports suggested he favoured a more limited cap on gambling advertisements — a proposal that failed to gain political consensus.

Funding and Enforcement

The review also backs a reassessment of cost recovery mechanisms to ensure ACMA has sufficient resources to enforce compliance, investigate breaches and raise awareness.

The principle outlined is clear: operators profiting from online wagering should fund the protection framework.

Advertising Reform Remains Unresolved

While BetStop has matured operationally, its future effectiveness is closely tied to broader regulatory change.

Despite Labor’s 2022 election pledge to introduce comprehensive gambling advertising reform to protect an estimated 600,000 Australians at risk of severe harm, no draft legislation has been tabled.

With enforcement enhancements proposed and political scrutiny intensifying, BetStop’s expanded role may depend on whether the federal government finally resolves its position on gambling advertising restrictions.

For now, the national self-exclusion scheme is viewed as essential — but incomplete — within Australia’s evolving harm-minimisation strategy.