Unibet has been fined AU$1 million by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for failing to comply with self-exclusion rules under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The penalty follows an extensive ACMA investigation into the operator’s handling of self-excluded customer accounts via the BetStop system.
The investigation revealed that 954 Unibet customer accounts remained active even after users had registered with BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion register. Notably, 45 of these accounts stayed open for over 190 days, including some created on BetStop’s launch day.
Although no bets were placed during the self-exclusion period, the accounts were not promptly closed, breaching legal obligations.
Further, ACMA found that after self-exclusion periods ended, 45 customers were able to place bets using old accounts. In a striking example, one individual placed over 1,200 bets using an account that should have been permanently shut down.
Under the Interactive Gambling Act, operators must immediately close the accounts of individuals who opt for self-exclusion. Should those users wish to resume gambling after their exclusion ends, they are required to open a new account.
As part of its response, Unibet has entered into a two-year court-enforceable undertaking. This agreement includes an independent review of its compliance processes and a commitment to implement all recommended improvements. Additionally, the operator will voluntarily refund affected customers who accessed accounts that should have been deactivated.
This marks the first time ACMA has issued a financial penalty related to breaches of the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER) rules.
Carolyn Lidgerwood, Gambling Lead and Member of ACMA, stated:
This outcome puts the industry on notice. Operators must comply with self-exclusion rules or face serious financial and regulatory consequences.
