Dabble hit with AUS $1,069,200 ACMA penalty over BetStop self-exclusion failures

Dabble Sports has paid penalties of AUS $1,069,200 after Australia’s communications regulator found the operator broke rules designed to protect people who self-exclude from online wagering via the national BetStop register.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said its investigation found Dabble failed to close 157 wagering accounts after the account holders registered with BetStop. Under Australia’s online gambling self-exclusion rules, operators must close those accounts as soon as practicable and stop electronic marketing to self-excluded people.

ACMA also found that 165 self-excluded people were sent a total of 839 electronic messages from Dabble, including SMS, emails and app push notifications. In addition, the regulator said 45 customers were sent over 2,000 push notifications that did not include BetStop information, which is required under the self-exclusion rules.

ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said people who register with BetStop have made a “clear decision” to exclude themselves from online wagering, and that providers must respect that by closing accounts promptly and not targeting them with gambling promotions. She described the issues as “serious breaches” and said wagering providers need robust systems to protect people who have chosen to self-exclude.

Alongside the payment, ACMA accepted a two-year court-enforceable undertaking from Dabble. The undertaking includes an independent review of Dabble’s compliance systems and investment to implement recommended improvements.

Australia is also set to tighten the BetStop framework further. New laws will launch on 1 January 2027 to strengthen BetStop, including substantially increasing penalties for rule breaches. Separately, Australia’s Parliament last month passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, changing how gambling advertisements are displayed across media platforms in the country.