Australian sportsbook Dabble has paid a penalty of AU$1.1m (£582,000) as a result of breaching online gambling self-exclusion rules.
The operator was investigated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which found a large number of cases (157) where Dabble failed to close down the accounts of individuals who have self-excluded on BetStop.
In addition to the penalty, ACMA has placed Dabble under a two-year, court-enforceable order to ensure that the operator remains fully compliant with Australia’s player protection laws in the future.
An investigation established that 165 self-excluded individuals were sent a total of 839 targeted messages through mobile phone, emails and app notifications.
Self exclusion commands under the BetStop programme, require Australian operators to cut all promotional engagement with self-excluded customers and stop facilitating their gambling behaviour.
Another breach identified a total of 45 affected regular customers which were sent over 2,000 push notifications messages without any information about BetStop, which again is required under the local gambling regulations.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, ACMA Member, condemned Dabble’s failure to meet its licence expectations, adding: “People who register with BetStop have made a clear decision to exclude themselves from online wagering. Providers must respect that decision by closing their accounts promptly and ensuring they are not targeted with gambling promotions.
“These were serious breaches by Dabble. Wagering providers must have robust systems in place to protect people who have chosen to self-exclude.
“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.”
Dabble and all other licensed operators in Australia will have to abide by much stricter rules surrounding BetStop and self-exclusion coming 1 January 2027 thanks to the Interactive Gambling Amendment Act 2026, which passed Royal Assent on 28 August.
The new texts dictate that operators will need to close self-excluded accounts within seven days under all circumstances, meaning that any deposits, winnings or withdrawals must be settled within that time period.
Furthermore, the reforms will expand the definition of ‘electronic messaging’ much wider in the context of marketing to ensure that BetStop registrants are protected beyond the traditional email address.
