ACMA Issues Enforceable Undertaking Against Entain for Over 500 BetStop Self-Exclusion Breaches
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has accepted an enforceable undertaking from Entain Group Pty Ltd following a comprehensive investigation that identified more than 500 contraventions of Australia’s national self-exclusion register rules. The investigation, completed in May 2026, revealed significant failures across Entain’s Ladbrokes and Neds betting platforms, where individuals registered with BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register – were able to open accounts and place wagers. The findings represent a substantial breach of consumer protection obligations designed to help Australians experiencing gambling harm.
Investigation Findings: Widespread Account Opening Failures
The ACMA’s investigation identified four distinct categories of contraventions across Entain’s operations. Most significantly, the regulator found that Entain opened four licensed interactive wagering accounts for registered individuals in direct violation of section 61MA(2) of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Additionally, Entain provided licensed interactive wagering services to registered individuals on 59 separate occasions, representing a systematic failure in account monitoring and access controls.
The most substantial breach involved the failure to close accounts promptly. Entain failed to close 449 licensed interactive wagering accounts that had no outstanding or pending bets as soon as practicable after account holders became registered individuals. In some cases, accounts remained open for more than a year after self-exclusion registration. The investigation also identified 23 instances where Entain failed to include appropriate references to BetStop in regulated electronic messages sent to customers.
| Contravention Type | Number of Breaches | Legislative Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Opening accounts for registered individuals | 4 contraventions | Section 61MA(2) |
| Providing services to registered individuals | 59 contraventions | Section 61KA(3) |
| Failing to close accounts without outstanding bets | 449 contraventions | Section 61MB(5) |
| Failure to promote BetStop in communications | 23 contraventions | Section 61JP(5) |
Entain's Response and Enforceable Undertaking
Rather than proceeding with infringement notices or civil penalties, the ACMA accepted an enforceable undertaking from Entain, which places the company under court-enforceable obligations to remediate its compliance failures. This approach allows the regulator to impose specific remediation requirements while maintaining oversight of implementation.
Entain’s submission to the ACMA acknowledged that motivated individuals attempting to circumvent BetStop exclusions would reasonably be expected to exhibit addictive gambling behaviours. The company argued that the contraventions occurred during the initial 12 to 18-month period of BetStop’s operation, when wagering service providers were still developing enhanced understanding of circumvention methods. However, the ACMA determined that Entain did not take reasonable precautions or exercise due diligence to prevent registered individuals from opening accounts, despite having systems in place that flagged potential BetStop matches for manual review.
Broader Regulatory Context and Enforcement Action
The Entain investigation is part of a broader ACMA enforcement effort targeting non-compliance with Australia’s self-exclusion protections. In January 2026, the ACMA issued eight infringement notices to Tabcorp Holdings Limited, each for $19,800, totalling $158,400, for providing prohibited in-play betting services to Australian customers. The regulator has also investigated multiple other wagering operators including Harris Bookmaking (Chasebet), Winners Bookmaking (BetPlay), Grant Lynch Bookmaking Services (LightningBet), Betfocus, and others for similar BetStop violations.
Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, civil penalties for corporations can reach up to $12,375,000 per day for each contravention. The ACMA’s decision to accept an enforceable undertaking rather than pursue maximum financial penalties reflects a regulatory approach focused on achieving compliance and protecting consumers, whilst allowing operators to demonstrate remediation commitment. The undertaking includes specific obligations for Entain to strengthen its BetStop compliance processes, implement enhanced monitoring systems, and maintain ongoing regulatory oversight.
