Australia Launches Its First Self-Exclusion Register

The Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has appointed Engine Australia, a technology group, to create and provide the first self-exclusion register for online and mobile gambling in the country.

Australia’s First Self-Exclusion Register to Launch in 2022

Engine Australia, a technology group, has been appointed by the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to create and provide the first self-exclusion register for mobile and online gambling in the country, similar to GamStop, UK’s self-exclusion register. The service would allow people to self-exclude licensed interactive betting service providers with a single process. The register would launch in mid-2022.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin stated that Engine’s register could change the lives of people who need help and enhance the protection measures that already exist in the system. The register will give people the ability to exclude themselves from mobile and online wagering services, including horse race betting and other sports, from a period of three months to life. It would prohibit advertisements and promotions from providers to any self-excluded individual.

Users Will Not Receive Promotions and Advertisements

O’Loughlin stated that the register would ensure closed accounts for people who want to exclude themselves. They would receive their money after their accounts get closed, and they would not be able to see promotions and advertisements.

ACMA will consult with providers to move forward with the next steps for the self-exclusion program. According to O’Loughlin, through consultations, the team will engage with the interactive betting industry, which would help design the system and rules, which are the foundation of the register’s operations. She said that Engine’s register would work with consumers and advocacy groups, making sure that the register meets the customers’ needs, including “robust privacy safeguards.”

Over 80% Of Australians Engage in Gambling Activities

According to statistics, over 80% of adults in Australia engage in some form of gambling activity. It is the highest gambling rate in the world. According to the Responsible Gaming Foundation, since 2015, the gambling expenditure in the country amounted to over $23 billion. Online wagering is the fastest-growing segment of the gambling industry in the country.

In 2019, Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said that the government should preserve the bettors’ ability to enjoy wagering. However, it should also include sensible measures to support at-risk gamblers. According to officials, a self-exclusion register is crucial for the safety of Australians.