Dabble has paid more than A$1 million in penalties after Australian regulators found the betting operator breached national self-exclusion requirements designed to protect people who choose to stop gambling online.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced in a press release that Dabble Sports Pty Ltd paid A$1,069,200 following an investigation into its handling of customers registered with BetStop, Australia’s National Self-Exclusion Register. The regulator also secured a court-enforceable undertaking from the company aimed at strengthening future compliance with the rules.
The investigation concluded that Dabble failed to close 157 wagering accounts belonging to individuals who had enrolled in BetStop. Under Australia’s self-exclusion framework, wagering operators must close such accounts as soon as practicable once a customer registers and must stop sending gambling-related marketing communications.
Founded in 2020 by former PointsBet and CrownBet executive Tom Rundle, Dabble operates a wagering platform that incorporates social features, allowing users to follow and copy bets placed by friends, former athletes, and other personalities.
Investigation Reveals Multiple Compliance Failures
According to the ACMA, the company continued sending promotional communications to self-excluded individuals despite the restrictions imposed under BetStop. The regulator found that 165 people who had registered for self-exclusion received a combined 839 electronic messages, including emails, text messages, and app notifications.
The investigation also uncovered additional breaches involving responsible gambling messaging requirements. Regulators found that Dabble sent more than 2,000 push notifications to 45 customers without including mandatory information about BetStop.
Australian rules require wagering providers to include information about the self-exclusion program in electronic messages that promote or advertise gambling services. The ACMA determined that Dabble’s communications failed to meet those obligations.
BetStop was introduced in 2023 to provide a nationwide self-exclusion option for people concerned about their gambling activity. Registration prevents individuals from opening new accounts with licensed wagering operators across Australia while also requiring existing accounts to be closed and marketing communications to cease.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood described the findings as significant and highlighted the potential impact on vulnerable consumers.
“People who register with BetStop have made a clear decision to exclude themselves from online wagering. Providers must respect that decision by closing their accounts promptly and ensuring they are not targeted with gambling promotions.
These were serious breaches by Dabble. Wagering providers must have robust systems in place to protect people who have chosen to self-exclude.
BetStop is an important consumer protection measure, but it only works if wagering companies follow the rules. The ACMA will take action where wagering providers fail to meet their obligations,” Ms Lidgerwood said.
Regulator Secures Compliance Commitments
Alongside the financial penalties, the ACMA accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Dabble that will remain in effect for two years. Under the agreement, the company must arrange an independent review of its compliance systems and invest in implementing any recommended improvements.
The regulator stated that it can seek court enforcement if Dabble fails to comply with the terms of the undertaking. The ACMA said the case demonstrates the importance of operators maintaining systems capable of identifying and acting on self-exclusion registrations without delay.
The enforcement action comes as Australia prepares to introduce stronger protections for the BetStop system. New legislation due to take effect on 1 January 2027 will expand the regulator’s enforcement powers and substantially increase penalties for breaches of self-exclusion obligations.
The upcoming changes follow criticism that previous enforcement arrangements limited the regulator’s ability to pursue some cases. Existing rules included a shorter period for issuing penalties, while forthcoming reforms will provide a longer enforcement window and higher maximum sanctions for non-compliance.
Dabble, which reported a A$14.4 million profit last year and attracted a A$33 million investment from Tabcorp in exchange for a 20% stake in 2022, now faces the task of strengthening its compliance processes as regulators continue to monitor adherence to Australia’s responsible gambling requirements.