Entain will undergo an independent review of its compliance systems after the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found more than 500 breaches of national self-exclusion rules.
Following the review, Entain must submit to the ACMA an “implementation plan” within 60 business days detailing how it will carry out the review’s recommendations.
The ACMA has accused Entain of allowing people on Australia’s national self-exclusion register, BetStop, to open and play on Ladbrokes and Neds accounts.
Entain also allegedly failed to close the accounts of those registered with BetStop within the appropriate timeframe. Under ACMA rules, the closure must happen “as soon as practicable”.
Most of the contraventions (449) were instances of insufficient speed when it came to closing accounts.
The regulator found 59 instances of provision of services to individuals on BetStop, and four instances of allowing accounts to be opened by individuals already registered with the self-exclusion tool.
The investigation, which began in December 2024 following complaints received by the ACMA, also found Entain failed to adequately promote BetStop 23 times in customer communications, as required under the Interactive Gambling (National Self-exclusion Register) Register Rules 2022.
The majority of the failings are alleged to have taken place in 2024.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said: “When someone signs up to BetStop, wagering companies must close all of that person’s accounts held within their services.
“In this case, Entain’s systems did not adequately identify and link all wagering accounts held by those customers across its services.”
Lidgerwood revealed that one account remained open for more than a year after the customer had self-excluded.
She added: “When people register for self-exclusion there should be no way for them to open new accounts for licensed wagering services in Australia.”
The ACMA has accepted an 18-month court-enforceable undertaking from Entain, which includes the compliance systems review and implementation plan.
Entain was not issued with an infringement notice, but failure to comply with an enforceable undertaking can result in court-ordered fines, the regulator noted.
This year, ACMA has taken action against Tabcorp, Winners Bookmaking, MyStake and Chasebet for various regulatory breaches.
A recent report by the regulator highlighted the risks to player welfare from the increased use of AI by both operators and customers in the sector.
Entain remains in a legal battle with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analytics Centre (AUSTRAC), which alleges “serious and systemic non-compliance” on the part of the operator with regard to AML and counter-terrorism financing laws.
The post Australia regulator probe finds more than 500 self-exclusion rule breaches at Entain first appeared on EGR Intel.
Operator behind Ladbrokes and Neds failed to close 449 accounts registered with BetStop quickly enough, with one customer’s account remaining open for more than a year
The post Australia regulator probe finds more than 500 self-exclusion rule breaches at Entain first appeared on EGR Intel.