ACMA fines Puntaa Pty Ltd $19,800 after BetStop self-exclusion breach
Picklebet accepted bets on 9 February 2026 from a customer registered with BetStop hours earlier.
Key Takeaways
- The ACMA imposed a $19,800 civil penalty on Puntaa Pty Ltd, trading as Picklebet.
- ACMA found Picklebet accepted bets on 9 February 2026 from a person who had registered with BetStop hours earlier.
- Picklebet closed the customer's account later on 9 February 2026.
- New laws starting 1 January 2027 will substantially increase penalties for BetStop self-exclusion breaches.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) imposed a $19,800 civil penalty on Puntaa Pty Ltd, trading as Picklebet, after it accepted bets from a person who had registered with BetStop. The ACMA's investigation found the bets were accepted on 9 February 2026; the customer had registered with BetStop — the National Self-Exclusion Register — hours earlier. Picklebet closed the customer's account later the same day.
Breach details and regulator action
ACMA concluded that accepting wagers from a BetStop registrant contravened the self-exclusion rules that prohibit providing wagering services once an individual registers. The regulator quantified the enforcement outcome as a $19,800 penalty paid by Puntaa Pty Ltd.
Context and forthcoming changes
New laws commencing on 1 January 2027 will strengthen BetStop, including measures that will substantially increase penalties for breaches of the self-exclusion rules. The ACMA action and the incoming legislative changes together reflect the Australian federal approach to enforcement and higher sanctions for operators who provide wagering services to excluded individuals.
"The operator accepted bets from a BetStop registrant on 9 February 2026 and closed the account later that day," the ACMA said in its finding, summarising the sequence uncovered by its investigation.
The ACMA did not disclose additional case-specific financial details beyond the imposed penalty. For regulatory developments on self-exclusion and related compliance obligations see regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What penalty did the ACMA impose on Picklebet?
The ACMA imposed a $19,800 civil penalty on Puntaa Pty Ltd, trading as Picklebet. The penalty resulted from an investigation that found Picklebet accepted bets from a BetStop registrant on 9 February 2026.
When did ACMA find Picklebet accepted bets from a BetStop registrant?
ACMA's investigation identified the acceptance of bets on 9 February 2026. The customer had registered with BetStop hours earlier and Picklebet closed the account later that day.
Will penalties for BetStop breaches change in future?
Yes. New laws commencing on 1 January 2027 will strengthen BetStop and will substantially increase penalties for breaches of the self-exclusion rules.
Tags
About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
More from Eleanor Whitfield
