The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has imposed a fine of $1,014,120 on Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd, trading as Unibet, for failing to close the accounts of 954 of its customers who had registered with BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER).

An ACMA investigation found more than 100,000 contraventions by Unibet of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA rules) for not closing the accounts of 954 customers as soon as practicable after they had registered on the NSER.

The investigation found that 45 of these customer accounts remained open for 190 days or more, including many who had registered to self-exclude from online and telephone betting on the first day of the NSER. While none of these self-excluded customers were able to place bets during their self-exclusion period, the accounts should have been closed.

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The company also provided wagering services to 45 customers after they ceased to be registered with the NSER, using old accounts that should have been closed. The ACMA found evidence that these customers were able to place thousands of bets through these accounts after their NSER registration ended, including one customer who placed more than 1200 bets on their old account.

Under the IGA rules, once an individual registers with the NSER, wagering service providers must close that person’s account as soon as practicable, with additional contraventions for each day the account remains open. If the person’s self-exclusion ends and they choose to place bets again, they must be required to open a new account rather than being allowed to log into their old account.

ACMA member and gambling lead Carolyn Lidgerwood said this was a significant lapse in Unibet’s NSER compliance processes.

“Our investigation found very serious breaches by Unibet over a sustained period of time,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

“Taking in some cases 190 days to close accounts is clearly unacceptable and does not reflect the decisions made by Unibet customers to seek support to help them not gamble.

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“The NSER rules are also there to ensure that people are making a clear and deliberate choice to recommence gambling. That is not the case if they can simply access old accounts.

“We recognise that no bets were made from these Unibet accounts or marketing sent while customers were self-excluded. However, this outcome puts the industry on notice that they must comply with the rules or face potential financial penalties and other actions available to the ACMA under the IGA,” she said.

In addition to the first financial penalty imposed by the ACMA for breaches of NSER rules, the ACMA has accepted a 2-year court-enforceable undertaking from Unibet. The undertaking commits Unibet to a comprehensive independent review of its compliance systems and processes and the implementation of recommended improvements.

Unibet has also voluntarily undertaken to issue refunds to affected customers who were able to access accounts that should have been closed. The ACMA considers these important commitments from Unibet, directed at ensuring future compliance.

Are You Watching This?!, the leading provider of real-time Sports Excitement Analytics data for global sports, announced a new collaboration with Optimove, the leader in Positionless Marketing.

Are You Watching This?!’s technology empowers operators and sports media companies to present perfectly-timed, emotion-driven engagement through Optimove’s CRM Marketing Hub workflows. RUWT?!’s pre-integrated Excitement Analytics identifies when a game gets thrilling – whether heading into overtime, a no-hitter, or a major upset – and automatically triggers contextual push notifications and personalized campaigns.

As part of the agreement, Optimove will also gain access to MetaBet Odds which allows operators and sports media to display live lines to customers. With RUWT?!’s data feed and Meta Odds embedded into Optimove’s platform, personalized real-time player interactions are instantly supercharged – giving brands the ability to connect with fans at the moments that matter most.

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This integration establishes RUWT?! and Optimove as leaders in event-driven marketing – creating smarter, intuitive, and meaningful fan experiences across multiple platforms.

Are You Watching This?! Founder, Mark Phillip, said: “Partnering with Optimove means they can super-serve their network by helping marketers engage with users at the most impactful moments. Our Excitement Analytics tool understands when sports events are becoming unmissable and drives users to the action – boosting engagement, loyalty, and revenue.”

Optimove’s Adi Dagan, Senior Director of Partnerships, added: “We’re thrilled to partner with Are You Watching This?! — a true pioneer in real-time sports excitement. Their data is unmatched and combining it with Optimove’s marketing platform unlocks a new level of contextual, fan-first engagement. Together, we’re giving operators the power to connect with players at the exact moment excitement strikes, driving loyalty and lifetime value”

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has agreed a new partnership to integrate its portfolio of casino titles onto Aardvark’s software platform.

Aardvark has an exceptional track record of providing specialist omni solutions for online and retail betting recognised for a high-performance transaction engine with extremely high bet acceptance rates. For more than 10 years, Aardvark has expanded its global customer base and offers a huge breadth of online betting content ranging from sports, lotteries and virtual games, to table games, keno and casino games.

Aardvark’s casino offering will now feature a wide selection of Belatra’s standout content including beloved hits Mummyland Treasures, Rise of Zeus, Golden øks, Make it Gold, and the most recent instant game, Mummy’s Mines

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Misha Voinich, Belatra’s Head of Business Development commented: “We’re excited to bring our growing games catalogue to a broader audience through Aardvark Technologies’ network. Our shared philosophy for delivering exceptional gaming experiences makes this the perfect collaboration.”

Arijus Denisovas, Commercial Director at Aardvark Technologies, said: “It’s vital that we always look to enhance our casino offering with the best content available so our partners can present the most engaging titles to their players. Belatra’s library of games is the ideal way for us to build on this belief.”