26 September 2023

Govt takes a punt on self-exclusion

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Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston has announced plans to legislate an online National Self-Exclusion Register that will allow people to ban themselves from online gambling sites and apps.

Ms Ruston said the Register was a key measure within the Government’s first National Consumer Protection Framework to address the issue of destructive online gambling habits.

“As much as possible Government policy should preserve Australians’ ability to enjoy a punt while putting in place sensible and targeted measures to prevent and support gamblers facing significant risks of harm,” Ms Ruston said.

“The National Self-Exclusion Register is a voluntary process where an individual can ban themselves from using all interactive wagering services across State boundaries for a period ranging from three months, or permanently, through one simple process.”

“It is a measure that we believe will motivate gamblers to have period where they do not gamble online at all as a way of changing their behavior and minimising the risk they face of gambling-related harm,” the Minister said.

Ms Ruston said under the proposed Register, interactive wagering service providers would be prohibited from directly advertising and promoting to a person registered for self-exclusion.

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