More than 30,000 people in Australia have signed up to the country’s BetStop gambling self-exclusion scheme since its launch in August last year.
Data from the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) shows 30,493 people have elected to self-exclude. The service, which went live on 21 August last year, covers all licensed online and phone wagering providers in the country.
The figures cover the period to 30 September 2024. As of this date, 23,182 people had active exclusions, meaning 7,311 people completed their self-exclusion or cancelled their exclusion early.
New South Wales leads the way for BetStop registrations
Data shows the highest number of registrations came from players in New South Wales. Some 9,537 consumers in the region have signed up with BetStop, including 1,482 in the most recent quarter (three months to the end of September).
Victoria accounts for 8,193 of all registrations, with Queensland at 6,140, Western Australia 3,279 and South Australia 1,871. All other states and regions were below the 1,000 mark.
ACMA also noted a third consecutive quarter of decline in total sign-ups to BetStop, For Q1 of 2024-25, some 4.521 registered with the scheme, down from 5,087 in Q4 of 2023-24 and 5,445 in Q3 of the previous year. It was also the quietest quarter since the scheme launched.
Younger players more likely to sign up
Other key points from the figures include that younger players make up the majority of total registrations. Some 49% of all sign-ups, or 15,007, were aged 30 or under, the youngest age group in the report.
Consumers aged between 31 and 40 were the next most popular group, accounting for 30% of all registrations. The 41-50 age group followed with 12%, then 51 to 60 with 6% and just 3% for those aged 60 and over.
As for how long people were self-excluding, some 39%, or 11,839, of all registrations were for lifetime exclusions. The same percentage opted for a period of three months to two years, with 12,081 selecting this option.
Just 17% of players elected to self-exclude for three months, with 4% selecting the two to five years options and 1% over five years.
Licensed wagering providers must promote BetStop on their websites, apps and marketing materials. ACMA is monitoring compliance with the scheme.