Australian gamblers who are willing to ban themselves from their harmful habit will be able to do so for their entire lifetime.
Only several months after the Federal Government made an effort to ban the use of credit cards for online gambling services, and weeks after the final report of the inquiry into online gambling was unveiled, BetStop is set to become operational as of August 21st, 2023. The national self-exclusion register, which is being launched ahead of upcoming football finals and the racing carnival that is scheduled to take place in the spring, will come as the final measure of the Australian consumer protection framework for online gambling.
It will be focused on helping problem gamblers suspend themselves from gambling and sports betting services to help them get over their harmful gambling and overcome gambling-related harm.
Australians who decide to sign up for the BetStop self-exclusion scheme would be able to exclude themselves from betting services for a minimum of three months. They would be also able to fully ban themselves from the practice, for their entire lifetime.
During the self-imposed ban, providers of online and mobile sportsbook services must not allow any listed individuals to either open an account with them or place a wager. Furthermore, they would be required to make sure they do not send any marketing materials to people who have decided to ban themselves from gambling.
Australians Will Be Able to Ban Themselves for Between Three Months and Their Entire Lifetime
Amanda Rishworth, the Social Services Minister of the country, commented on the newest measure unveiled by the Government to tackle the potential negative impact that gambling has on local people, saying that it took lawmakers a little over a year to do so. According to her, the national self-exclusion scheme would help many people change their lives for the better.
As Ms Rishworth explained that the minimisation of online gambling harm is not a one-off act, so the state and territory counterparts across the country should take part in all upcoming activities aimed at continuing the positive change.
Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said that protecting local people from online gambling-related harm was a matter of paramount priority for the Albanese Government. The release of BetStop – the inaugural national self-exclusion register – was a game changer, which would make it much easier for vulnerable people to exclude themselves from online gambling. BetStop is the last of a total of 10 measures that are set to be rolled out as part of the National Consumer Protection Framework for online betting and is expected to provide Australian people with the opportunity to better protect themselves against gambling harm.
As mentioned above, Australians will be able to ban themselves from gambling for between three months and a lifetime. The ones who want to end their self-exclusion period would not be allowed to do so during the first three months of registering. They will also be required to have consulted with a qualified professional on their decision to revoke their self-exclusion.
Now, all companies offering online gambling services will be required to promote BetStop, on their websites and online gambling applications, and through their marketing communications.
The Federal Government is set to also introduce mandatory customer pre-verification measures that would complement the launch of the national self-exclusion register. As part of this, online gambling operators would have to verify a customer’s identity before allowing them to place their first wager. The regulation of BetStop will be carried out by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
- Author
Daniel Williams
