Dabble Sports Hit With AU$1m Fine Over Self-Exclusion Violations

Dabble Sports has been ordered to pay AU$1,069,200 after regulators found repeated breaches of Australia’s online gambling self‑exclusion rules. 

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The penalty follows an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which revealed that Dabble failed to close accounts belonging to people who had registered with BetStop, the national self‑exclusion register. 

The company also sent hundreds of promotional messages to individuals who had already opted out, raising serious concerns about consumer protection. 

Over 150 self-excluded players allowed to gamble

The ACMA investigation uncovered that Dabble left 157 wagering accounts active even after the account holders had signed up to BetStop. 

In addition, 165 self‑excluded customers received 839 electronic messages, including SMS, emails, and app notifications. Regulators also found that 45 customers were sent more than 2,000 push notifications without the required information about BetStop. 

ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood described the findings as troubling, stressing that the breaches could cause real harm. “People who register with BetStop have made a clear decision to exclude themselves from online wagering. Providers must respect that decision by closing their accounts promptly and ensuring they are not targeted with gambling promotions,” she said. 

She added, “These were serious breaches by Dabble. Wagering providers must have robust systems in place to protect people who have chosen to self‑exclude.”

Dapple enter two‑year court‑enforceable undertaking with ACMA

To ensure compliance, the ACMA accepted a two‑year court‑enforceable undertaking from Dabble. Under this agreement, the company must carry out an independent review of its systems and invest in improvements recommended by auditors. If Dabble fails to meet the terms, the ACMA can take the matter to court.

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The regulator emphasized that BetStop is a vital consumer protection tool, but it only works if operators follow the rules. 

“BetStop is an important consumer protection measure, but it only works if wagering companies follow the rules. The ACMA will take action where wagering providers fail to meet their obligations,” Lidgerwood said. 

ACMA continues heavy crackdown on gambling breaches

The penalty against Dabble is only the latest in a string of enforcement actions by the Australian regulator.

In July, ACMA fined Tabcorp AU$2.7m for breaking telemarketing rules, showing that the regulator is willing to impose significant penalties when operators fail to meet obligations. That same month, MMA fighter Jamie Mullarkey was formally warned for promoting illegal gambling through social media posts, while SBS was ruled to have breached advertising limits during its Tour de France coverage in June. 

Earlier in May, the regulator forced Entain into a court‑enforceable remediation program after its Ladbrokes and Neds brands were found to have breached national self‑exclusion rules. Chasebet also received a warning over similar failings. 

New laws set to begin on 1 January 2027 will further strengthen BetStop, with penalties for breaches expected to rise significantly.

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