Richard Eccles to Lead Review of Australia’s BetStop Register
The Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has appointed former senior public servant Richard Eccles to conduct a review of BetStop, the national self-exclusion register.
Australia shown on map. Australia commission Richard Eccles with BetStop review.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:BetStop is a free, nationwide method for individuals to exclude themselves from all licensed online and phone betting services in Australia.
Once registered with BetStop, users are blocked from opening new gambling accounts, and betting companies are prohibited from accepting wagers from or sending marketing materials to those individuals.
Findings Dues in 18 Months
The review, led by Eccles, has been commissioned by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, with findings expected to be released within 18 months. The purpose of this assessment is to guide future policies and ensure that BetStop remains an effective tool for preventing gambling harm.
Since its launch in August 2023, over 30,000 individuals have signed up for BetStop, according to government data. Based on current registrations and insights from similar initiatives, it is estimated that BetStop has helped users save between AU$80 million and AU$135 million in its first year.
Minister Rowland has spoken about the importance of the review:
We want to make sure BetStop is working as effectively as possible to protect vulnerable Australians from gambling harms – which is why my department is undertaking this review.
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Continuous Effort to Combat Gambling Harm
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth also commented on the need for continuous effort, adding, “Protecting vulnerable Australians from online gambling harms is not a set and forget proposition – and we’ll continue to work closely with stakeholders across government, industry and community to address this pervasive issue.”
Earlier this month, BetStop published its Q1 2024/25 statistics, showing a decline in registrations, with overall numbers dropping 39.7% year-on-year.
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