The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has reported strong industry-wide compliance with the new ban on credit card and cryptocurrency payments for online wagering.
In its 2024–25 compliance report, the regulator outlined its enforcement priorities, which also included a heightened focus on the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER) and expanded measures to combat illegal offshore gambling.
The new payment restrictions, which took effect on June 11, 2024, have been a major success according to the ACMA, with no investigations required into non-compliance since the ban’s inception.
The regulator also proactively engaged with 50 licensed operators whose terms and conditions still referenced illegal payment methods, ensuring all such references were removed.
During the year, the ACMA shifted its approach to the National Self-Exclusion Register from education to active enforcement of its nation-wide Australian ban on payments.
By the end of June 2025, nearly 45,000 Australians had registered with the NSER to self-exclude from all licensed online wagering platforms.
The regulator finalized enforcement actions against six operators for breaches of the NSER rules, with penalties ranging from formal warnings to an AU$1 million fine and a two-year enforceable undertaking for Betchoice.
The ACMA has also continued its multi-layered strategy to disrupt illegal offshore gambling services, which has resulted in approximately 220 illegal operators exiting the Australian market.
New tools have been introduced, including the Fintel Alliance Micro-Laundering and Illegal Gambling project with AUSTRAC, which works with banks and law enforcement to detect and block payments to unlawful operators.
These efforts demonstrate the regulator’s comprehensive and increasingly effective approach to safeguarding Australian consumers.
