How Affiliate Sites Help Bookmakers Circumvent Australia's BetStop Self-Exclusion Register

Offshore online bookmakers without an Australian licence are using networks of third-party affiliate sites to lure people voluntarily registered with the federal self-exclusion register BetStop back into wagering. These sites entice users with generous bonuses, direct them via links to offshore platforms, and publish content on how to circumvent restrictions. Australia's media regulator Acma has described the practice as "deeply concerning and opportunistic" and has already begun contacting the sites to remind them of applicable legislation.

BetStop and Its Blind Spot

As is well known, Australia takes wagering very seriously, and new restrictions in this area emerge quite frequently. In addition, the country's authorities are actively developing tools such as mandatory exclusion mechanisms for such activities.

BetStop is a federal self-exclusion register launched in August 2023. At present, approximately 45,000 people have voluntarily registered, having chosen to stop wagering. The service requires Australian licensed operators to block access and cease all contact with registered individuals.

However, BetStop's reach does not extend to offshore companies. According to the bonus aggregator nodepositau.com and other industry sites, it is predominantly offshore brands that operate in Australia — much as is the case in most countries around the world.

How the Affiliate Scheme Works

Third-party sites known as affiliates publish curated lists of offshore bookmakers with promotional promises and clickable links. The URLs of some of these sites contain the names of Australian cities, which clearly indicates their target audience. For each click, registration, or bet placed, the affiliate earns a commission. A number of these platforms host content nudging people to reconsider their self-exclusion decision, even though early removal of restrictions under the law requires a statutory declaration confirming that the individual has completed consultations with a qualified professional.

Curaçao and the Offshore Geography

A significant proportion of the promoted operators are based in Curaçao, a small island in the Caribbean with a lenient licensing regime. Such a jurisdiction seriously complicates oversight, the enforcement of Australian rules, and consumer protection, as regulators in one country have virtually no leverage over businesses registered in another.

Bonuses for the "Hasty" and the Myth of Enhanced Security

Examples of promotional promises found on affiliate sites speak for themselves:

• One site promotes welcome bonuses of up to $10,800 — which is prohibited by law in Australia — while hinting that self-exclusion may have been a "hasty decision" and encouraging users to continue wagering.
• Another site claims that offshore bookmakers offer "enhanced security" compared to licensed platforms.

Australian regulators warn that the reality is the exact opposite. Users are promised "fewer restrictions," while the risks of fraud, loss of funds, and absence of legal protection increase dramatically.

The Law Is Strict, but Full of Gaps

The legal picture is as follows:

• Offshore interactive gambling operators are prohibited from targeting Australian consumers and inducing them to gamble.
• Australian bookmakers are required to comply with blocking obligations and must not contact individuals registered with BetStop.
• However, there are insufficient direct restrictions to prevent paid third-party affiliate promotion. It is precisely this gap that affiliates exploit.

Acma Raises the Alarm

An Acma spokesperson stated that the practice is "deeply concerning and opportunistic" and undermines the very purpose of the national self-exclusion register. The regulator has begun contacting platforms to notify them of the requirements of the Interactive Gambling Act.

Researchers Warn of Predatory Targeting

Professor Nerilee Hing of CQUniversity described the targeting of BetStop registrants as "a clear example of predatory practices directed at the most vulnerable." In her assessment, the current regulatory environment limits the ability to monitor and curb harmful affiliate activity, regardless of whether those affiliates operate on behalf of licensed or offshore operators.

Reform Under Threat

Martin Thomas, head of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, described the situation as "extremely dangerous." In his view, what is happening amounts to a deliberate undermining of BetStop, which authorities have repeatedly cited as a key achievement of gambling reform.

Kai Cantwell, who leads Responsible Wagering Australia, agreed with this assessment and stressed that Acma requires expanded powers and tools to block such sites, cut off payment flows, and dismantle affiliate networks directing people towards harmful services.