Unibet has been hit with a financial penalty exceeding AU$1 million (US$640,000) after the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) uncovered systemic breaches of self-exclusion rules under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The penalty marks the first financial sanction issued by the regulator for violations related to the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER), known as BetStop.
Over 100,000 Breaches Identified
Following a formal investigation, ACMA identified more than 100,000 violations of federal gambling laws over an extended period. At the core of the issue were 954 customer accounts that remained active despite the users registering with BetStop, which is intended to prevent self-excluded individuals from accessing gambling services.
Among these, 45 accounts remained open for over 190 days, including some that belonged to users who had signed up for self-exclusion on BetStop’s launch day. Although Unibet did not send marketing communications or accept bets on these accounts during the exclusion period, the failure to promptly close them constituted a direct breach of legal requirements.
Improper Access After Exclusion Periods
The regulator also found that 45 customers were able to place bets after their exclusion periods ended by reusing previously closed accounts. Notably, one customer placed over 1,200 bets using an account that should have been permanently disabled under the Act. The law requires that such individuals must open a new account if they wish to resume gambling after their exclusion expires, preventing the use of previously held credentials.
Regulatory Response and Company Action
In response, Unibet has agreed to a two-year court-enforceable undertaking, committing to an independent review of its compliance procedures and the implementation of any necessary reforms. Additionally, the company has pledged to voluntarily refund customers who were able to use accounts that should have been shut down.
ACMA member and gambling lead Carolyn Lidgerwood underscored the seriousness of the breaches:
“Our investigation found very serious breaches by Unibet over a sustained period of time. 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.”
A Warning to the Industry
This landmark enforcement action sends a clear message to licensed betting operators: compliance with the NSER is non-negotiable. The penalty against Unibet underscores the growing regulatory scrutiny in Australia’s online gambling sector and the importance of rigorous account monitoring and responsible gambling protocols.
As regulatory frameworks tighten globally, this case could set a precedent for how breaches of self-exclusion safeguards are dealt with—both in Australia and internationally.
