No Penalty For Bookmaker That Targeted Problem Gamblers
An online bookmaker that sent out hundreds of marketing messages to individuals on the self-exclusion register has actually avoided a punitive damages, but has paid a $500,000 fine for sending spam to customers.
PointsBet contravened laws relating to BetStop - the national self-exclusion register, by postponing closing accounts of clients who had actually registered and sending marketing messages to self-excluded people.
It likewise sent more than 800 messages that breached Australia's e-marketing laws, an examination by the Australian Communications and Media Authority found.
More unlawful online betting sites have actually been blocked following ACMA investigations. Illegal gaming services are unlikely to have client securities and users risk losing their cash. View details about blocked websites at
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- ACMA (@acmadotgov) May 14, 2025
ACMA stated a punitive damages was "not readily available" for the NSER breaches due to the "complex and unique matters investigated" and PoinstBet would instead undergo "thorough court-enforceable endeavors".
"A failure to abide by an enforceable endeavor can result in court-ordered punitive damages," ACMA said in a statement.
The investigation discovered PointsBet sent out 508 marketing messages to self-excluded people in August and September 2023.
By law, individuals signed up with the NSER should not be sent marketing materials from a licensed wagering service.
There were "no reasons" for gambling business that fail to comprehend their legal responsibilities given the threats to people experiencing gambling damages, ACMA Chair Nerida O'Loughlin stated.
"It is deeply worrying that these failures have actually affected PointsBet's consumers, a few of whom had actually taken proactive actions to omit themselves from online betting," she stated.
People registering to the NSER were taking positive actions and and their choice "should not be compromised by business like PointsBet", Ms O'Loughlin said
ACMA discovered that no omitted clients were able to position bets with PointsBet during the duration examined.
The undertakings devote PointsBet to evaluations of its compliance with spam and NSER laws, actioning any suggested enhancements and training for all pertinent personnel.
"This action must function as an alerting to all wagering companies that they must meet their legal commitments or deal with the consequences," Ms O'Loughlin stated.
PointsBet was fined $500,800 for 705 emails sent out in 2023 which contained a direct link to its betting items without consisting of an "unsubscribe" function.
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