Australia
Thousands of Australians sign up to the new National Self-Exclusion Register
BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register – is making a big difference to Australians at risk of experiencing online gambling harm, with almost 10,000 people registered since its launch in August 2023.
The vast majority of registrants are under 40 years of age and the most common registration period is for a lifetime, demonstrating the importance of this initiative for young Australians who are worried about how online gambling is affecting them.
More than 1,200 people have also been nominated as support persons – people who have been put forward by registered users as someone who can help them get through their self-exclusion period.
BetStop covers all Australian licensed interactive wagering service providers–both online and telephone-based – and prohibits these providers from opening an account or accepting a bet from self‑excluded individuals, or sending them marketing material.
Australians are able to self-exclude from a minimum of 3 months to a lifetime, by registering free-of-charge and in a single interaction. To date, most registrations are taking less than 5 minutes, highlighting that this is a quick and easy way for people protect themselves from gambling harms.
Wagering service providers must promote BetStop, including on their websites and apps, and via marketing material to customers.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is currently monitoring compliance by industry with BetStop to ensure self-excluded individuals are not able to open new accounts and do not receive marketing materials.
Complementing BetStop, the Government has also introduced mandatory pre-verification. This means wagering companies must verify a customer’s identity when they register for a new account and before they can place a bet. This strengthens protections for underage Australians and those self-excluded through BetStop.
Gambling harm has a significant impact on individuals, communities, and the nation, and taking the step to self-exclude is a big step for many people.
Australia has the highest gambling losses per adult in the world, with a total of $25 billion in losses every year.
Online gambling is growing in Australia, including due to ease of access through mobile devices. In less than 10 years, participation in online gambling has more than doubled, equating to approximately 3.5 million Australian adults. Around one million online gamblers in Australia are at risk of, or are experiencing, some degree of gambling harm.
As part of its harm minimisation agenda, the Government also recently introduced legislation to ban the use of credit cards for online wagering.
For more information visit www.betstop.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“The Albanese Government is committed to minimising the harms associated with gambling online.
“That’s why we launched BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register – in August this year as the final measure of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering.
“It’s fantastic to see BetStop making a big difference to nearly 10,000 Australians.
“If you or someone you care about need support, I strongly encourage you to visit the BetStop website to learn more about the Register and the many other supports available”.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
“Our Government is focused on preventing and minimising the harm caused by online wagering and we’ve taken a number of positive steps towards achieving that goal.
“It’s great that BetStop is already having such a positive impact, along with our other measures such as new evidence-based taglines that Australians would have seen on rotation on their screens and radios.
“Pre-verification is also assisting in ensuring people aren’t finding workarounds to bet if they have opted to exclude themselves from online wagering.
“We know minimising the harm caused by online wagering is not a set and forget exercise and our Government is working closely with our state and territory counterparts on what comes next now all measures under the National Consumer Protection Framework have been implemented.”
Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has launched its Data Community platform in Australia, bringing unified consumer intelligence to the rapidly expanding $13 trillion global Fun Economy. By connecting venues, retailers and destination districts into a single interoperable ecosystem, the platform enables real-time insights, personalised engagement and seamless digital-to-physical experiences.
The Data Community platform enables smarter staffing, stronger tenant collaboration and more personalised engagement, helping operators manage increasingly complex, high-traffic environments. The global “Fun Economy” — spanning leisure, hospitality, retail and entertainment — is valued at over $13 trillion, according to joint research from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Zero Labs.
Tony Toohey, Director of TT Management welcomed the platform’s availability in Australia: “The Australian market is increasingly focused on connected, experience-led destinations,” said Toohey.
“Operators here understand the importance of breaking down data silos and collaborating across venues and partners. QCI’s Data Community platform arrives at the right time, enabling a more coordinated and commercially intelligent approach to managing entertainment and hospitality environments.”
Andrew Cardno, Co-Founder and CTO of QCI, said: “Australia represents a sophisticated and forward-looking market for experience-driven destinations,” said Cardno.
“By bringing Data Community to the region, we are equipping operators with the tools to unify their data, understand guest journeys more deeply and curate experiences — not just transactions.”
QCI’s technology is deployed in more than 1000 sites globally, including over 300 casino resorts across North America, Australia and Europe. The company’s platform supports leading brands across gaming, hospitality and mixed-use entertainment districts, helping operators align marketing, operations and guest engagement within a single intelligence framework.
With the launch of Data Community in Australia, QCI continues to expand its role as the intelligence layer powering connected destinations across the evolving Fun Economy.
The post QCI Launches its Data Community Platform in Australia appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Liquor & Gaming NSW has published the Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28, setting a clear path for reducing harm, supporting responsible industry growth and meeting evolving community expectations. The Strategy outlines Hospitality and Racing’s vision, regulatory posture and strategic objectives.
It outlines three strategic objectives which will guide the work to support communities, individuals and the industry. The first is targeted harm reduction, using better data, education and engagement to focus on the areas where we can make the biggest difference.
The second is outcome‑focused, responsive regulation, by making use of streamlined, place‑based and community‑informed approaches that deliver meaningful, real-world outcomes.
Third is promoting modern tools, skilled teams and smart decisions, investing in its capability, improving how it uses data and supporting consistent decision making across hospitality and racing.
Regulatory Priorities 2026
Alongside the new strategy, Liquor & Gaming NSW has also issued its Regulatory Priorities 2026. This sets out where the department will be focusing its regulatory attention over course of the year. It provides transparency on Liquor & Gaming’s forward regulatory agenda and gives the industry the opportunity to proactively engage about the issues they are concerned about.
The post NSW: Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28 and Regulatory Priorities 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal online gambling sites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include:
Lucky Mate
Vegastars
Wombet
Cosmobet
Fortune Play
Fortunica
Rolletto
Velobet
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1518 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked. Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal online gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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