ACMA receives Regulatory Excellence Award for launch of BetStop self-exclusion register

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been recognized with an international award for regulatory excellence for the launch of BetStop – Australia's National Self-Exclusion Register. 

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) announced that ACMA received the Regulatory Excellence Award at the 2024 global regulators conference, citing "the complex delivery and regulatory challenges that were overcome to create Australia’s first centralized exclusion register."

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin praised ACMA staff who worked on the initiative and the success of the register in helping people make considered and supported decisions about their gambling. “BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register represents a significant enhancement of consumer safeguards available to Australians who gamble,” O’Loughlin said.

“The IAGR award for regulatory excellence is a recognition of the dedication and collaboration of ACMA staff in delivering this important safeguard, which has supported the more than 30,000 Australians registered to date," she added.

Figures released in August to mark the register’s first 12 months showed younger Australians embracing self-exclusion, with almost half of registrants aged 30 and under and around 80 percent aged 40 and under. 

Australians can register to self-exclude from online and phone wagering at www.betstop.gov.au. All that is needed is a phone, email address, and an identity document such as a driver's license, Medicare card, or passport. Registering is quick and easy, informs ACMA, with most people able to register in less than 5 minutes.

Earlier this year, ACMA revealed that since its launch in August 2023, more than 28,000 Australians have registered to self-exclude from all licensed online and phone wagering services through BetStop.

The BetStop register offers a range of self-exclusion options, allowing individuals to opt-out of gambling services for as little as three months or as long as a lifetime.