BetStop to Now Cover Lotteries and Other Forms of Gambling in Australia

BetStop, Australia’s self-exclusion program, has already been enjoying a strong uptake among the local populace. People suffering from gambling-related harm have been keen to put their names in the register, allowing themselves breathing room from sports gambling and casinos.

BetStop Sees Continued Registrations, Plans for Expansions Mulled

The federally-unified program has allowed as many as 53,000 Australians presently to steer clear of harmful gambling practices. That many people were able to register between August 2023 and December 1, 2025, with uptake among Australians in an upswing, as the program becomes more popular.

This and more information were provided as part of a review by the country’s media regulator. 

Now, to ensure that BetStop is helping even more people, the program is possibly expanding to other areas, including lotteries. Presently, the program allows users to block themselves from online and phone wagering. 

Expanding to lotteries is not the only strategic change that the Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking to administer. The watchdog has noted breaches whereby companies are abusing the system by targeting people who have registered on BetStop with many companies located offshore. 

Excluding lotteries, though, can be a particularly strong boost to reducing gambling-related harm, as games such as Keno have draws every three minutes, and people could easily spend as much as $1,000 on a single draw. 

Third-Party Advertisers, Offshore Companies Still a Problem

Chink in BetStop’s armor remain, as third-party advertisers may not always be able to avoid people who are not on the register, thus creating friction for them and possibly luring them back into their bad habits. 

BetStop continues to be an important step towards protecting consumers in Australia, a country known for its love of gambling. However, the register is far from done with its work, as the country has more than 500,000 at-risk gamblers, who may be on the cusp of developing a more serious issue with the problem.