Australia’s BetStop self-exclusion program has reached a significant milestone, with over 30,000 individuals signing up since its launch last August. The initiative, which allows users to self-exclude from licensed online and phone wagering services, aims to support those looking to manage their gambling habits.
According to data from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), a total of 30,493 people had enrolled in BetStop as of September 30, 2024. Of those, 23,182 individuals remain actively excluded, while the remaining 7,311 have either completed their self-exclusion period or canceled their exclusion early.
Regional Participation in BetStop
New South Wales (NSW) leads the nation in registrations, with 9,537 residents joining BetStop. Of this total, 1,482 individuals signed up during the latest quarter, which covers the three months leading up to the end of September 2024. Victoria also saw substantial participation, contributing 8,193 sign-ups to the overall total.
Queensland followed with 6,140 registered participants, while Western Australia and South Australia recorded 3,279 and 1,871 registrations, respectively. Other regions and states reported fewer than 1,000 enrollments each.
Decline in New Registrations
One notable trend in the BetStop data is a steady decline in new registrations over recent quarters. The first quarter of the 2024-25 financial year saw 4,521 people join the scheme, marking a continued drop from the 5,087 sign-ups in the previous quarter (Q4 2023-24) and 5,445 in Q3 of the same year. This makes Q1 of 2024-25 the quietest period for new registrations since the program began.
Younger Players Lead BetStop Registrations
The demographic data reveals that younger players are more likely to enroll in the BetStop scheme. Almost half (49%) of all participants, or 15,007 individuals, were aged 30 or younger. The 31 to 40-year-old group accounted for 30% of the total registrations, followed by 12% for the 41-50 age range, 6% for the 51-60 group, and just 3% for those aged 60 and over.
Length of Self-Exclusion
In terms of the duration for which individuals opted to self-exclude, 39% of the total participants (11,839 people) chose a lifetime exclusion from gambling services. The same percentage of users opted for self-exclusion periods ranging from three months to two years, with 12,081 selecting this timeframe.
A smaller proportion, 17% elected to self-exclude for just three months, while 4% chose exclusions lasting two to five years. Only 1% of registrants selected self-exclusion periods beyond five years.
ACMA Monitoring Compliance
The ACMA continues to monitor compliance with BetStop, ensuring that licensed wagering operators promote the scheme on their platforms, including websites, apps, and marketing materials. This ongoing effort aims to ensure that players are well-informed about the option to self-exclude and receive the support they need to manage their gambling.
Source:
BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register statistics: Q1 2024-2025, acma.gov.au, October, 2024.