Australia's BetStop Register Reaches 71,391 as Younger Adults Lead Sign-Ups

More than 71,000 Australians have registered with the country's national gambling self-exclusion service, according to the latest figures from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

The regulator's quarterly report, updated on 27 October 2026, shows that BetStop recorded 71,391 registrations between its launch in August 2023 and 30 September 2026.

Of these, 43,090 exclusions remained active at the end of September. The figures also reveal that younger adults account for a substantial share of people choosing to restrict their access to online betting.

Younger Australians Account for Almost Half of Registrations

ACMA's latest BetStop statistics show that 5,961 people registered during the July to September quarter.

That compares with 5,599 registrations during the previous quarter, representing an increase of approximately 6.5%.

People aged 30 and under accounted for 33,311 registrations since the service launched. This represents approximately 46.7% of the total.

Another 22,293 registrations came from people aged between 31 and 40.

Together, these two age groups represent almost 78% of registrations, highlighting the significant involvement of younger adults in the self-exclusion programme.

The figures also show that 27,241 registrants selected lifetime exclusion, while 27,179 chose periods ranging from three months to two years.

A further 13,046 selected the minimum three-month exclusion period.

These figures describe the choices made by registrants. They do not establish how many Australians experience gambling-related harm or whether gambling problems are increasing nationally.

New South Wales Records the Most BetStop Registrations

New South Wales has recorded the highest number of registrations since BetStop launched, followed by Victoria and Queensland.

The latest quarterly figures show how registrations are distributed across Australia's states and territories.

New South Wales recorded 1,921 new registrations during the latest quarter, while Victoria added 1,435 and Queensland recorded 1,327.

However, the differences between states should be considered alongside their population sizes. Higher registration totals do not necessarily indicate higher rates of gambling harm.

BetStop allows Australians to exclude themselves from all licensed online and telephone wagering providers through a single registration.

The free service covers approximately 150 licensed wagering providers. Once someone registers, operators must close their betting accounts, prevent further betting and stop sending marketing messages.

Exclusion periods range from three months to a lifetime.

Stronger Gambling Protections Are Coming in 2027

The latest figures come as Australia prepares to strengthen its national gambling protections.

New legislation taking effect on 1 January 2027 will increase penalties for operators that breach BetStop's self-exclusion requirements.

The changes follow several enforcement cases involving betting companies that failed to comply with the rules.

Australia has also introduced wider reforms targeting gambling advertising, inducements and the treatment of vulnerable customers.

As Casino.com previously reported, Australia's gambling reforms include new protections for at-risk bettors and an advertising opt-out register.

The changes are intended to give consumers greater control over their exposure to gambling promotions while increasing operators' responsibilities.

For people already using BetStop, the register provides a way to restrict access to licensed online wagering services without contacting each bookmaker individually.

However, it does not cover every form of gambling, including land-based casino gaming and poker machines.

With registrations continuing to grow, the latest figures underline the importance of accessible self-exclusion tools within Australia's broader approach to reducing gambling harm.