ACMA Names Six Wagering Providers for BetStop Breaches as Tabcorp Fined

Australia’s media and communications regulator has taken action against six licensed betting companies after finding they broke rules linked to BetStop, the national self-exclusion scheme.

ACMA named Tabcorp, LightningBet, Betfocus, TempleBet, Picklebet and BetChamps, and said the breaches happened in 2024.

Tabcorp has paid a $112,680 fine and agreed to a legally binding plan to improve its processes. The other companies were given formal directions to fix problems or received warnings.

What ACMA says went wrong

ACMA said its investigations found failures that undermined the national self-exclusion system, including self-excluded individuals being able to access wagering services and, in some cases, being sent gambling marketing. BetStop is designed to help people block themselves from licensed online wagering providers, so breaches can weaken a key harm-reduction safeguard.

Actions taken against each operator

ACMA said Tabcorp paid a $112,680 fine and agreed to a legally binding promise to fix its processes. Under that agreement, an independent expert must review how Tabcorp checks and verifies customers, and staff must receive better training on the rules for the self-exclusion register. If Tabcorp doesn’t follow through, the matter can be enforced in the Federal Court.

ACMA also issued formal fix-it directions to Betfocus, LightningBet and TempleBet. These require independent audits of their systems, and the companies must put any recommended changes in place.

BetChamps was given a formal warning. ACMA said it is still deciding what action to take against Picklebet.

What happens next

ACMA is using audits and legally binding agreements to make sure betting companies can show their BetStop systems actually work in real life. Not just in their policies. These independent checks usually look at how a company confirms a customer’s identity, how quickly it blocks people who have self-excluded, and whether its marketing tools might still send ads to those customers by mistake. If problems are found, the company must fix them and prove the fixes are working. The wider message is clear: self-exclusion is an important consumer protection, and failures can lead to stronger penalties.

This announcement shines a spotlight on how betting companies check who their customers are and how quickly they run BetStop checks when someone signs up or tries to place a bet. It also raises questions about whether these checks are happening properly every time, or if gaps are letting self-excluded people slip through.

For consumers, ACMA’s message is simple: self-exclusion only works if licensed providers follow the rules carefully and block people who have opted out. For operators, it’s a clear warning that ACMA is actively monitoring BetStop compliance. If systems or staff processes aren’t strong enough, the regulator can step in with fines and audits.