Unibet Fined Over $1 Million for Failing to Close Self-Excluded Betting Accounts
Unibet has been penalized over $1 million by Australia’s communications regulator for failing to promptly close hundreds of customer accounts registered with the national self-exclusion system, BetStop. The decision marks the first financial penalty issued by the ACMA for breaches related to the National Self-Exclusion Register.
Regulator Identifies Over 100,000 Violations
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found that Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd, trading as Unibet, violated the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 more than 100,000 times. These breaches occurred when the company failed to close 954 customer accounts after individuals registered with BetStop, Australia’s official self-exclusion register.
ACMA reported that 45 of these accounts stayed open for more than 190 days. Some customers had registered for self-exclusion on BetStop’s launch day but still retained access to their accounts.
Old Accounts Used After Self-Exclusion Ended
Unibet also allowed 45 customers to access their old accounts after their self-exclusion periods expired. According to regulations, the company should have closed these accounts permanently. One user placed over 1,200 bets through a previously excluded account.
Although no bets occurred during the self-exclusion periods, the regulator stressed that reopening accounts without requiring new registrations broke the rules. The law mandates a new account setup for anyone returning to gambling after self-exclusion.
Breach Highlights Compliance Failures
Carolyn Lidgerwood, ACMA member and gambling lead, said:
“Our investigation found very serious breaches by Unibet over a sustained period of time. Taking in some cases 190 days to close accounts is clearly unacceptable and does not reflect the decisions made by Unibet customers to seek support to help them not gamble.”
She emphasized that the rules were designed to ensure individuals make a conscious decision to return to gambling, not simply regain access to existing accounts.
Financial Penalty and Court-Enforceable Undertaking
ACMA issued a $1,014,120 fine – the first for violating the NSER compliance rules. Alongside the penalty, Unibet accepted a two-year court-enforceable undertaking. The agreement requires the company to undergo an independent review of its internal processes and to implement all recommended improvements.
Unibet also agreed to refund customers who gained access to accounts that should have been closed.