ACT Opens Inquiry Into Digital Gambling Exclusion Bill

Under the current ACT system, someone who wants to exclude themselves from gambling has to enter into a self-exclusion deed, sign a printed form witnessed by another person, provide identification and submit a current photograph for venues to use for identification.

The proposed bill would replace much of this paperwork with a digital process that could be completed entirely online.

People would still be able to choose which ACT clubs and gambling venues they want to exclude themselves from, but they would have more flexibility over the length of the exclusion. The current maximum is three years, while the proposed scheme would allow exclusions of anywhere between six months and five years.

The ACT Gambling and Racing Commission would also centrally manage the exclusion arrangements, with the aim of applying exclusions consistently across venues.

The changes would not take effect immediately if the bill passes, and the ACT Government says the new scheme would begin six months after the legislation passes the Legislative Assembly.

The ACT proposal is not simply a local version of BetStop. According to ACT, there are some key differences in how the two operate:

The national service BetStop allows people to exclude themselves from all Australian-licensed online and phone wagering services in a single step. Once registered, providers must close their wagering accounts and cannot allow the person to place bets or send them marketing messages.

The ACT scheme deals with a different part of the gambling environment. It is designed for physical gambling venues in the specific territory, meaning someone could potentially need to use the two systems separately depending on the types of gambling they want to exclude themselves from.

The proposed legislation is not only about making self-exclusion easier, but also about what venues need to do to offer player protection to people.

The ACT Government says venues would have clearer responsibilities to identify when someone may be at risk of gambling harm and take supportive action. This includes helping people who have self-excluded to avoid gambling, connecting people with support services and responding to recognised signs of gambling harm.

The bill would also replace the term “problem gambling” with “at risk of gambling harm”, with the government saying the new definition is intended to focus on recognised signs and behaviours rather than labelling people.

The parliamentary inquiry is now underway, allowing organisations, industry participants and members of the public to comment on the proposed changes.

Submissions are open until 5 pm on 22 November 2026, with the committee due to report by 15 December, and no public hearings have been scheduled so far.

For now, the changes remain proposals, but if the bill passes, the ACT would move from a relatively paperwork-heavy exclusion process to one that can be completed digitally, while also giving people the option of excluding themselves for up to five years.

The proposed ACT system would also sit alongside BetStop rather than replace it, leaving Australians with separate self-exclusion systems for physical gambling venues and online wagering.