No Penalty For Bookmaker That Targeted Problem Gamblers

An online bookie that sent out of marketing messages to individuals on the self-exclusion register has actually prevented a financial penalty, but has actually paid a $500,000 fine for sending spam to clients.


PointsBet contravened laws connecting to BetStop - the nationwide self-exclusion register, by postponing closing accounts of clients who had actually registered and sending marketing messages to self-excluded people.


It also sent more than 800 messages that breached Australia's e-marketing laws, an examination by the Australian Communications and Media Authority discovered.


More prohibited online gaming sites have actually been obstructed following ACMA investigations. Illegal gambling services are not likely to have customer protections and users risk losing their money. View information about obstructed websites at
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- ACMA (@acmadotgov) May 14, 2025


ACMA stated a financial charge was "not readily available" for the NSER breaches due to the "complex and unique matters investigated" and PoinstBet would rather go through "comprehensive court-enforceable endeavors".


"A failure to adhere to an enforceable undertaking can cause court-ordered punitive damages," ACMA stated in a declaration.


The examination found PointsBet sent out 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 products from a certified betting service.


There were "no reasons" for betting companies that stop working to comprehend their legal commitments provided the dangers to people experiencing gambling harms, ACMA Chair Nerida O'Loughlin stated.


"It is deeply worrying that these failures have actually affected PointsBet's consumers, some of whom had taken proactive actions to omit themselves from online wagering," she stated.


People registering to the NSER were taking positive actions and and their decision "need to not be compromised by business like PointsBet", Ms O'Loughlin stated


ACMA discovered that no excluded customers were able to position bets with PointsBet throughout the period examined.


The undertakings commit PointsBet to reviews of its compliance with spam and NSER laws, actioning any advised enhancements and supplying routine training for all appropriate personnel.


"This action must serve as an alerting to all betting providers that they must fulfill their legal commitments or deal with the effects," Ms O'Loughlin said.


PointsBet was fined $500,800 for 705 e-mails sent out in 2023 that contained a direct link to its betting products without consisting of an "unsubscribe" function.


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