TLDR
- Dabble Sports must pay AU$1,069,200 after Australia’s media regulator found repeated self-exclusion breaches
- 157 wagering accounts stayed open after customers joined the BetStop self-exclusion register
- 165 self-excluded customers received 839 promotional messages across SMS, email, and app notifications
- Dabble signed a two-year court-enforceable undertaking requiring an independent systems review
- The fine follows similar actions against Tabcorp, Entain, and Chasebet this year
Dabble Sports has been ordered to pay AU$1,069,200 after Australia’s communications regulator found the company broke self-exclusion rules meant to protect gambling customers.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority, known as ACMA, led the investigation. It found that Dabble failed to close accounts belonging to people who had signed up for BetStop, the country’s national self-exclusion register.
The company also sent hundreds of promotional messages to customers who had already opted out of gambling. Regulators said this raised concerns about how the company protects vulnerable users.
Over 150 Self-Excluded Players Allowed to Gamble
ACMA’s investigation found that Dabble left 157 wagering accounts active even after those customers had registered with BetStop. This means people who chose to stop gambling could still place bets.
On top of that, 165 self-excluded customers received 839 electronic messages. These included text messages, emails, and app notifications promoting gambling.
Regulators also discovered that 45 customers received more than 2,000 push notifications. These messages did not include the required information about BetStop.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said the findings were troubling. She explained that people who join BetStop have made a clear choice to stop gambling.
“Providers must respect that decision by closing their accounts promptly and ensuring they are not targeted with gambling promotions,” Lidgerwood said.
She called the breaches serious. Lidgerwood added that wagering providers need strong systems in place to protect people who have chosen to self-exclude.
To settle the matter, ACMA accepted a two-year court-enforceable undertaking from Dabble. Under this deal, the company must complete an independent review of its systems.
Dabble will also need to invest in improvements that auditors recommend. If the company fails to meet these terms, ACMA can take the case to court.
Lidgerwood said BetStop is an important consumer protection tool. But she stressed it only works if wagering companies follow the rules.
ACMA Continues Crackdown on Gambling Breaches
This penalty is part of a wider pattern of enforcement from the Australian regulator this year. In July, ACMA fined Tabcorp AU$2.7 million for breaking telemarketing rules.
That same month, MMA fighter Jamie Mullarkey received a formal warning for promoting illegal gambling on social media. SBS was also found to have broken advertising limits during its Tour de France coverage in June.
In May, ACMA forced Entain into a court-enforceable remediation program. This came after its Ladbrokes and Neds brands were found to have broken national self-exclusion rules.
Chasebet also received a warning for similar failings around the same time.
New laws are set to take effect on 1 January 2027. These laws will strengthen BetStop further, and penalties for breaches are expected to increase.
