The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued “remedial direction” to ReadyBet after ruling the operator breached self-exclusion rules in the country.
An ACMA-led investigation found Victoria-licensed ReadyBet sent 273 texts and push notifications from its mobile app to self-excluded individuals. Communications were sent between 23 August 2023 and 21 December 2023.
All licensed operators in Australia are required to comply with rules related to the BetStop national self-exclusion register. BetStop launched in August 2023, around the time the identified issues began at ReadyBet.
Regulations state that Australian licensees do not market their services to those registered with BetStop. As ReadyBet breached these rules, ACMA proceeded with remedial direction for the operator.
Breaches included 250 contraventions of subsection 61LA(2) of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. This relates to sending electronic messages to registered individuals. ACMA also found 23 contraventions of subsection 61LA(4), which refers to “reckless” action by an operator by contacting excluded players.
In addition, ACMA flagged 2,342 contraventions of subsection 61JP(5). This is in reference to failing to promote the BetStop service to customers.
What will ReadyBet have to do?
Setting out the remedial direction for ReadyBet, ACMA said the operator must take a series of steps.
Firstly, it is required to commission an independent review of marketing systems, including its use of third-party suppliers. Any recommended changes should be implemented within six months of receiving the auditor’s report.
ReadyBet must also engage a provider to deliver training to staff to avoid messages being sent to self-excluded individuals. This must take place within 120 days of the remedial direction notice.
ACMA also ordered ReadyBet to self-report any potential or alleged non-compliance with the highlighted sections of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 for 12 months. In addition, it must comply with record-keeping requests from ACMA for a 12-month period.
Should ReadyBet not fulfil these directions, ACMA could seek civil penalties.
ACMA clamping down on self-exclusion failures
ReadyBet is the latest operator to feel the wrath of ACMA for not complying with regulations on self-exclusion.
In June, ACMA flagged Buddybet, Ultrabet, VicBet and Topbet for also breaching regulations on gambling self-exclusion. Ultrabet was told to review its compliance systems while VicBet and Topbet were issued formal warnings. Buddybet had already exited Australia and therefore faced no further action.
The quadruple ruling came after ACMA in May also penalised Unibet over self-exclusion failures. Unibet was ordered to pay AU$1 million (US$661,207) for more than 100,000 contraventions of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
ACMA said Unibet failed to close 954 user accounts in a timely manner after they registered with BetStop.
ACMA ordered ReadyBet to commission an independent review of its marketing and deliver additional staff training.