ACMA set to introduce a new national self-exclusion register in Australia
New scheme is part of a wide-ranging package from authority to beef up consumer protection regulations
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has stated that a new self-exclusion register is in development to support those impacted by gambling-related harm.
The register will cover licensed online and telephone betting services and allow consumers to add themselves to the national self-exclusion scheme.
Users can exclude themselves for varying periods of time; between three months to permanently.
Nerida O’Loughlin, ACMA chair, said: “The register will provide an avenue for people who want help changing their gambling habits and will complement existing consumer protection measures.
“Once you choose to self-exclude, it will be an offence for a licensed wagering provider to open an account for you, take a bet from you or to market gambling services to you. The ACMA will be enforcing those rules,” O’Loughlin added.
The launch of a self-exclusion register is one part of the ACMA’s compliance priorities for 2022–23.
Other schemes include tackling SMS and identify theft scams, battling the spread of misinformation and protecting telecommunication customers from financial hardship.
This announcement comes after the ACMA has ramped up its efforts to clamp down on illegal gambling websites in 2022.
At the time of writing, the regulator has issued banning orders on 30 sites, including the notorious thepokies.net, which was “one of the most significant websites to be blocked” since the regulator started issuing these orders.
Elsewhere, the government of New South Wales is set to offer responsible gambling refresher courses to former hospitality workers to address the worker shortage in the region.