The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has stated that self-exclusion leads to improvement in quality of life, but it remains to be seen whether the figures carry the needed weight for a wider impact.

Results were showcased in an ACMA-commissioned report conducted by market research firm ORIMA between May and June, from a pool of 381 participants. Given that 12,876 participants were invited, the final sample size represented a 3% response rate.

Responses were taken from users who evaluated their experience with Australia’s national self-exclusion register BetStop. Results showed that four in five people (77%) who self-excluded themselves from online and phone wagering for a period of time witnessed an improvement in their overall quality of life.

A total of 79% of those 381 said they’ve experienced improved mental health, while 69% of the whole pool reported better relationships with friends, family, and partners.

What’s more, 81% of all surveyed said they’ve completely stopped betting on sports or racing events, while 15% reported a decrease in their betting activity after self-exclusion.

Carolyn Lidgerwood, ACMA member, said: “We know online gambling causes a great deal of harm for too many in our communities. It is wonderful to see that the national self-exclusion register is having a positive impact. The stories shared with us are both moving and compelling.

“We want to make sure everyone who uses phone or internet gambling in Australia is aware of their options for self-exclusion. It only takes five minutes to register, and this could change your life.”

BetStop has been operated by Dataworks Group on behalf of the ACMA since the register’s launch in August 2023. Under Australian law, the register became the subject of a statutory review after 12 months of operations, which is still ongoing. 

The ACMA believes that the results will help inform the review in question, but again – whilst self-exclusion is in fact proven to help those suffering from problem gambling, it remains to be seen whether the report itself will have a significant impact on the review given its small sample size.

Tie-in with wider Australian reforms

There is currently another ongoing debate around gambling on the highest political level, quite fierce at that. It revolves around the implementation of the Murphy report – a series of recommendations laid out by the late Peta Murphy in a multi-party parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm.

Whilst the BetStop statutory review is a separate matter, it is entirely possible that the actions of current Australian PM Anthony Albanese’s cabinet in regards to the Murphy report will also reverberate over to the self-exclusion registry.

As there’s currently no single national gambling regulator in Australia – gambling matters are usually handled either by the ACMA for media complaints/violations and AUSTRAC for anti-money laundering obligations, the Murphy report supported the creation of a national body to end the fragmented governance of Australian gambling, spread across six territorial states.

Within its 31 recommendations, the report suggested the creation of a single national regulator that would supervise all gambling-related licensing, advertising, data collection, penalty enforcement and harm prevention initiatives such as BetStop.

Research, treatment and education funding has also been touched upon in the report, with Murphy suggesting a levy for online wagering service providers that would secure a constant finance stream for gambling harm infrastructure – potentially supporting BetStop’s operations as well.

Albanese himself has recently found himself under significant pressure by the opposition, which has accused him of delaying the report’s implementation in the interest of the gambling sector.