How BetStop works - nationwide register
1. What is BetStop and why it is needed
BetStop is a national self-exclusion register launched on 21 August 2023 by the Australian government as part of the National Online Gambling Consumer Protection Model. It allows any adult personality in Australia to block themselves from all licensed online and phone betting operators in one act, eliminating the need to submit a request to each provider separately.
2. Coverage and legal basis
All providers licensed for interactive betting in Australia (online and by phone) are required to integrate with BetStop through the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Regulator) API. Every time you enter or try to place a bet, the provider checks the customer's data with the registry and, in case of a match, automatically rejects the transaction. Violation of these requirements entails administrative sanctions up to multimillion-dollar fines.
3. Registration process
1. Submission: User logs in to betstop. gov. au and fills in the registration form: indicates full name, date of birth, email address and mobile phone.
2. Verification: An Australian passport, driving licence or Medicare card is downloaded to confirm identity.
3. Term choice: Time periods ranging from 24 hours to lifetime exclusion are available to choose from. After confirmation (via SMS or e-mail), the blocking takes effect either immediately or after the "cooling period" (up to 72 hours), depending on the type of exception.
4. Single lock: When a registry entry is activated, all licensed operators receive a notification and terminate the applicant's service.
4. Technical implementation
API integration: providers turn to the BetStop service every time they request a bet or deposit.
Instant failure: if the client is listed in the registry, the system returns the code "Self-Excluded" and does not allow the operation.
Cross-platform: Blocking works on websites, mobile and desktop applications, as well as through third-party operator interfaces.
5. Provider Responsibilities and Controls
Licensed companies are required to:
ACMA has the right to verify compliance with the rules and collect fees and fines from violators under the National Registry Act (Cost Recovery Levy Act 2019).
6. Advantages and limitations
Advantages:
Limitations:
7. How to check your status
BetStop Personal Cabinet - Displays the start and end date of the exception.
Notifications from operators: when trying to bet, the message "You are registered in BetStop by\[ date]" will come.
ACMA support: The Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) hotline and BetStop support are ready to help in case of technical issues.
BetStop has become a key mechanism for protecting Australians from the dangers of gambling, providing a simple, reliable and centralized way of self-exclusion from licensed operators. Its effectiveness depends on the breadth of coverage and strict adherence to operators, and for the user of the service this is the minimum barrier to the long-awaited break in the game.
BetStop is a national self-exclusion register launched on 21 August 2023 by the Australian government as part of the National Online Gambling Consumer Protection Model. It allows any adult personality in Australia to block themselves from all licensed online and phone betting operators in one act, eliminating the need to submit a request to each provider separately.
2. Coverage and legal basis
All providers licensed for interactive betting in Australia (online and by phone) are required to integrate with BetStop through the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Regulator) API. Every time you enter or try to place a bet, the provider checks the customer's data with the registry and, in case of a match, automatically rejects the transaction. Violation of these requirements entails administrative sanctions up to multimillion-dollar fines.
3. Registration process
1. Submission: User logs in to betstop. gov. au and fills in the registration form: indicates full name, date of birth, email address and mobile phone.
2. Verification: An Australian passport, driving licence or Medicare card is downloaded to confirm identity.
3. Term choice: Time periods ranging from 24 hours to lifetime exclusion are available to choose from. After confirmation (via SMS or e-mail), the blocking takes effect either immediately or after the "cooling period" (up to 72 hours), depending on the type of exception.
4. Single lock: When a registry entry is activated, all licensed operators receive a notification and terminate the applicant's service.
4. Technical implementation
API integration: providers turn to the BetStop service every time they request a bet or deposit.
Instant failure: if the client is listed in the registry, the system returns the code "Self-Excluded" and does not allow the operation.
Cross-platform: Blocking works on websites, mobile and desktop applications, as well as through third-party operator interfaces.
5. Provider Responsibilities and Controls
Licensed companies are required to:
- check each client by BetStop during authorization and before each transaction;
- block any marketing communication with self-excluded persons;
- report to ACMA on the number of registry checks and locks.
ACMA has the right to verify compliance with the rules and collect fees and fines from violators under the National Registry Act (Cost Recovery Levy Act 2019).
6. Advantages and limitations
Advantages:
- Single step to lock all operators
- free service for the user;
- flexibility of timing - from short pauses to lifetime bans.
Limitations:
- does not cover non-licensed foreign sites and offline casinos;
- depends on the integrity of the operators in the timely verification of the register;
- attempts to bypass through new data or third-party payment methods are possible.
7. How to check your status
BetStop Personal Cabinet - Displays the start and end date of the exception.
Notifications from operators: when trying to bet, the message "You are registered in BetStop by\[ date]" will come.
ACMA support: The Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) hotline and BetStop support are ready to help in case of technical issues.
BetStop has become a key mechanism for protecting Australians from the dangers of gambling, providing a simple, reliable and centralized way of self-exclusion from licensed operators. Its effectiveness depends on the breadth of coverage and strict adherence to operators, and for the user of the service this is the minimum barrier to the long-awaited break in the game.
