ACMA Issues Formal Warning to Winners Bookmaking (Betplay) Over BetStop Compliance Failures
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has issued a formal warning to Winners Bookmaking after identifying multiple breaches of the country’s national self-exclusion rules linked to the BetStop system.
The enforcement action highlights the importance of strict compliance with responsible gambling measures under Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act 2001, as regulators continue to increase oversight across the online betting sector following several BetStop enforcement cases, which requires licensed online betting operators to quickly close accounts belonging to self-excluded individuals.
Account Not Closed After BetStop Registration
The ACMA found that Winners Bookmaking Pty Ltd, which operates under the Betplay brand, failed to close a customer’s wagering account after the individual registered with BetStop Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register.
BetStop allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from all licensed online betting and phone wagering services in Australia. Once registered, operators participating in the online gambling market must close any active betting accounts belonging to that individual as soon as practicable.
According to the gambling authority, Winners Bookmaking did not close the account within the expected timeframe, resulting in multiple compliance breaches.
Investigation Triggered by Consumer Complaint
The ACMA investigation began on 3 March 2025 after the regulator received a consumer complaint regarding possible non-compliance with national self-exclusion rules affecting Australia’s online gambling operators.
Records reviewed during the investigation confirmed that the customer registered with BetStop on 5 September 2024 while holding an active wagering account with Winners Bookmaking.
Despite the BetStop registration, the online betting account remained active until 25 September 2024.
ACMA concluded that the operator should reasonably have closed the account by 12 September 2024, meaning the account remained open for nearly two additional weeks beyond the expected closure timeframe.
Compliance Breaches Identified
Because the account was not closed within the required timeframe, ACMA determined that Winners Bookmaking breached subsection 61MB(5) of the Interactive Gambling Act, according to the regulator’s final investigation report.
Under the legislation, online gambling operators must promptly close accounts belonging to individuals listed on the national BetStop self-exclusion register.
Each day the account remained open after 12 September was treated as a separate violation. As a result, the regulator identified 13 individual breaches between 12 September and 25 September 2024.
The investigation also confirmed that the customer did not place any online betting wagers during the period when the account remained active.
Regulator Issues Formal Warning
Following the findings, Kelly Mudford, Acting Executive Manager of ACMA’s Gambling and Mis/Disinformation Branch, issued a formal warning to Winners Bookmaking.
The gambling authority stated that the operator must ensure full compliance with BetStop requirements moving forward.
ACMA also warned that any further breaches of Australia’s national self-exclusion rules could result in stronger enforcement action, including financial penalties or potential Federal Court proceedings.
The case also serves as a reminder to the wider iGaming industry that timely account closures remain a critical compliance requirement under Australia’s responsible gambling framework, as ACMA continues to take enforcement action against both licensed and unlicensed operators across the online gambling market.
