No Penalty For Bookmaker That Targeted Problem Gamblers
An online bookie that sent numerous marketing messages to individuals on the self-exclusion register has actually avoided a financial charge, but has paid a $500,000 fine for sending spam to consumers.
PointsBet contravened laws associating with BetStop - the nationwide self-exclusion register, by delaying closing accounts of consumers who had actually signed up and sending out marketing messages to self-excluded people.
It also sent more than 800 messages that breached Australia's e-marketing laws, an investigation by the and Media Authority discovered.
More unlawful online betting websites have been blocked following ACMA examinations. Illegal betting services are unlikely to have client protections and users risk losing their cash. View information about obstructed websites at
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- ACMA (@acmadotgov) May 14, 2025
ACMA stated a monetary charge was "not available" for the NSER breaches due to the "complex and unique matters investigated" and PoinstBet would instead undergo "comprehensive court-enforceable undertakings".
"A failure to abide by an enforceable undertaking can lead to court-ordered monetary penalties," ACMA said in a declaration.
The investigation discovered PointsBet sent 508 marketing messages to self-excluded individuals in August and September 2023.
By law, individuals signed up with the NSER should not be sent marketing materials from a licensed wagering service.
There were "no reasons" for betting business that fail to comprehend their legal obligations provided the dangers to individuals experiencing betting damages, ACMA Chair Nerida O'Loughlin said.
"It is deeply concerning that these failures have affected PointsBet's clients, a few of whom had actually taken proactive actions to exclude themselves from online wagering," she stated.
People registering to the NSER were taking favorable actions and and their choice "need to not be compromised by companies like PointsBet", Ms O'Loughlin stated
ACMA found that no excluded customers had the ability to place bets with PointsBet throughout the duration examined.
The endeavors devote PointsBet to evaluations of its compliance with spam and NSER laws, actioning any recommended enhancements and providing regular training for all pertinent staff.
"This action ought to function as an alerting to all wagering companies that they need to satisfy their legal responsibilities or face the consequences," Ms O'Loughlin said.
PointsBet was fined $500,800 for 705 e-mails sent in 2023 which contained a direct link to its wagering items without including an "unsubscribe" function.
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