Australia fines Dabble Sports Pty Ltd A$1.069 million over BetStop self-exclusion breaches

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has fined Dabble Sports Pty Ltd A$1,069,200, or about $721,620, after finding repeated failures to comply with Australia’s online gambling self-exclusion rules. For high-risk operators, the case is a reminder that BetStop is not just a consumer-protection register; it is a live compliance obligation with direct financial and licensing consequences.

1. The ACMA said Dabble failed to close 157 betting accounts after their holders registered with BetStop, Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register. BetStop lets people block access to online betting across the country, and operators are required to shut those accounts as soon as possible.
2. The regulator also found that Dabble sent 839 messages to 165 self-excluded people. Those communications went out by SMS, email and app push notifications, even though the rules prohibit gambling-related electronic marketing to people on the register.
3. In a separate breach, Dabble sent more than 2,000 push notifications to another 45 customers without including the mandatory BetStop information required under Australian law. Same channel, different violation: the regulator was not impressed by the paperwork.
4. As part of the enforcement outcome, Dabble gave a court-enforceable undertaking promising to comply with the rules going forward. Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA member, said people who register with BetStop have made a clear decision not to take part in online betting, and operators must respect that by closing accounts promptly and avoiding promotional contact.
5. The ACMA described Dabble’s breaches as serious and said betting companies need solid systems to protect self-excluded customers. It also announced that new laws taking effect on 1 January 2027 will strengthen BetStop, including substantially higher penalties for companies that breach self-exclusion rules.