The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has published its roadmap 2022/2023 technical directives to better regulate businesses operating within Australia’s media, digital and telecom sectors.  

Though the ACMA holds no legislative authority over gambling licences, the federal agency has been granted rights by Australia’s six states to set gambling standards with regards to advertising, compliance duties and customer protections.

The ACMA further serves as Australian gambling’s market monitor, in which it carries the authority to block the IPs of illegal/unlicensed remote gambling operators deemed to be targeting Australian consumers.

Within its remit, the ACMA can launch investigations of non-compliant gambling operators – who will be penalised by individual state governments or gambling licensing boards.

Publishing its list of regulatory directives, the ACMA outlined that it would be focused on strengthening Australia’s consumer rights on digital and telecom platforms.

Headline measures saw the agency announce that it would implement tougher laws on Australian telecom operators to prevent SMS scams and identity theft.

The ACMA followed its telecoms directive by stating that it would enforce tougher penalties against businesses that did not comply with SMS and Email unsubscribe and opt-out rules, as means to eliminate SPAM.

Marked as its final directive, the ACMA outlined its plans to launch a new National Self-Exclusion Register for players at risk of gambling harm.

The authority stated that a test-site will be ready in the ‘coming months’ that will allow players across licensed states to exclude for a minimum period of 3-months.

“If you self-exclude, wagering providers will be required to close all your betting accounts and must not – let you place a bet, open a new account or send you marketing messages.” – read a message on the ACMA’s website.