ACMA orders Unibet to pay AU$1 million for self-exclusion failures

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ordered Kindred-owned Unibet to pay a AU$1 million (€568,198/US$643,139) penalty for breaching self-exclusion rules in the country.

ACMA found over 100,000 contraventions by Unibet of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) by Betchoice Corporation, trading as Unibet. The investigation revealed Unibet failed to close 954 user accounts in a timely manner after they registered on the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER).

IGA rules state that once someone has registered with NSER, licensed operators must close their account as soon as possible. Should a player choose to return to gambling after their self-exclusion ends, they must open a new account.

Where did Unibet go wrong?

In its investigation, ACMA found 45 of the accounts remained open for 190 days or more. This included many consumers who had opted to self-exclude from online and telephone betting on the day the NSER launched.

ACMA noted none of these customers were able to gamble during their self-exclusion period.

However, the investigation also revealed Unibet did provide wagering to 45 customers after they were deregistered with NSER, through older accounts that should have been closed in line with NSER rules. According to ACMA, players in this group wagered thousands of times, with one customer placing over 1,200 bets.

As such, ACMA issued the penalty to Unibet. This is in addition to a two-year court-enforceable undertaking that commits Unibet to an independent review of its compliance systems and processes and the implementation of recommended improvements.

Unibet has also voluntarily undertaken to issue refunds to customers who could access old accounts that should have been closed.

ACMA blasts Unibet over ‘serious’ breaches

Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA member and gambling lead, referred to the case as a “significant” lapse by Unibet. She added it should serve as a warning to other licensees to follow the rules.

“Our investigation found very serious breaches by Unibet over a sustained period of time,” Lidgerwood said. “NSER rules are also there to ensure that people are making a clear and deliberate choice to recommence gambling. That is not the case if they can simply access old accounts.

“We recognise that no bets were made from these Unibet accounts or marketing sent while customers were self-excluded. However, this outcome puts the industry on notice that they must comply with the rules or face potential financial penalties and other actions available to the ACMA under the IGA.”