BetStop Surpasses 40,000 Self-Exclusions Across Australia
Australia’s national self-exclusion scheme, BetStop, has registered over 40,000 users since launching in August 2023. While the initiative continues to attract new participants, concerns over enforcement and coverage gaps have sparked calls for reform.
Over 40,000 People Have Used the Scheme
As of the end of March 2025, BetStop had recorded 40,121 registrations. Out of these, 27,763 individuals remained actively self-excluded, while 12,358 had completed or canceled their exclusion. The program allows users to choose a minimum exclusion period of three months or opt for a lifetime ban.
The service is most commonly used by younger adults. Around 46% of users are under 30 years old, while 32% are between the ages of 31 and 40. Only 3% of registrants are over the age of 60.
Experts Call for Stronger Safeguards
Advocates for safer gambling are urging changes to address loopholes in the current system. Proposals include stricter ID verification using government-issued documents, extending the scheme to cover retail gambling, lotteries, and keno, and banning direct marketing to those who have self-excluded.
Some gambling operators are also calling for BetStop to apply uniformly across all forms of gambling—both online and land-based. There are additional suggestions to revise reactivation rules once an exclusion ends and to adjust the funding model so that operator contributions reflect their market share.
Enforcement Issues Raise Concerns
Recent regulatory action has highlighted compliance problems. One major operator was fined more than one million Australian dollars after failing to close accounts registered with BetStop and continuing to send marketing messages to excluded individuals.
The system is currently undergoing a federal review, with findings expected in early 2026. Stakeholders anticipate recommendations aimed at strengthening enforcement, improving identification checks, and raising public awareness through targeted communication efforts.