ACMA: Young Australians Embrace National Online Gambling Self-Exclusion Register

More than 28,000 Australians have made the decision to self-exclude from all licensed online and phone wagering services since BetStop – The National Self-Exclusion Register was launched by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in August 2023.

The register allows people to self-exclude for a minimum of three months up to a lifetime and of the 28,000 registrants who to date have chosen to self-exclude:

• Almost half were aged 30 and under, and around 80% were aged 40 and under.
• Around 40% have decided to self-exclude for life.
• Fewer than 20% of registrants chose the minimum period of three months.
• More than 14% have already extended or reactivated their self-exclusion period.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said that the register’s first year of operation has shown that Australians want help in managing their gambling behaviour.

“Online gambling can cause a great deal of harm to individuals, their families and friends, so it’s encouraging that so many people have decided to take the step and register to self-exclude.

‘Younger Australians in particular are making early decisions about the role that online gambling will play in their lives.

“Many people are also choosing to nominate someone to support them. Stopping online gambling can be a difficult decision to make – having someone to support you can make the decision much easier.

“And many people are committing to long-term change, with a high percentage of people choosing to exclude for life,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

Australians can register to self-exclude from online and phone wagering at www.betstop.gov.au. All you need is access to your phone, your email address and an identity document such as a driver’s licence, Medicare card or passport. Registering is quick and easy – with most people able to register in less than 5 minutes.