Increased Australian self-exclusion levy to finance gambling harm reduction measures

(AsiaGameHub) –   As part of its latest budget, the Australian government announced on Tuesday a substantial funding package totalling AU$112.7 million (US$73.3 million) over five years from 2025–26 aimed at reducing gambling-related harm. Ongoing annual funding is projected to continue at approximately AU$18.1 million beyond the initial period.

The initiative, titled “Addressing Online Gambling Harms,” is led by the Department of Social Services, in collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The funding details were included in the Australia 2026–27 budget papers.

Additional financial support will be generated through an increased levy imposed on licensed operators that participate in the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER).

In terms of departmental allocations, the Department of Social Services will raise its contribution from AU$13.5 million in 2026–27 to AU$21.2 million in 2027–28.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts will also boost its funding for gambling harm initiatives to AU$12.5 million in 2026–27.

Meanwhile, the ACMA, Australia’s gambling regulator, will allocate AU$3.2 million in initial additional funding, followed by AU$5.2 million each year from 2026–27 to 2029–30. A portion of this funding will be covered by the self-exclusion scheme levy, which operators pay to support the platform’s operations.

Where’s the funding going?

The government’s package includes four key components designed to tackle both the demand for and supply of online gambling, with a focus on harm reduction:

• Financial counselling expansion: AU$39 million ($25.4 million) over four years starting in 2026–27, followed by a sustained annual investment of AU$10 million. This funding will enhance access to and availability of financial counselling services for individuals and families impacted by gambling harm.
• BetStop enhancements: AU$28.7 million ($18.7 million) over four years, with ongoing annual funding of AU$3.2 million thereafter. These funds will support broader community awareness of BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion register, improve data-matching capabilities, and enhance system usability to better protect users.
• Wagering advertising, enforcement and consumer protection: AU$22.6 million ($14.7 million) over five years beginning in 2025–26, plus AU$4.9 million annually on an ongoing basis. This will support enforcement of wagering advertising reforms, crack down on illegal gambling operators, and protect consumers from harmful online lottery offerings.
• National public awareness and education campaign: AU$22.4 million ($14.6 million) over three years from 2026–27. This will fund a nationwide campaign encouraging those affected by gambling harm to seek help and support.

The self-exclusion levy

Some of the funding will be redirected from existing departmental budgets, while the remainder will be financed through an increase in the levy charged to licensed operators using the NSER.

Projected receipts from this levy indicate significant contributions, with ACMA expected to collect AU$16.9 million in 2027–28, followed by a gradual decline in subsequent years.

The levy funds the administration of BetStop, which requires licensed Australian bookmakers to verify and respect self-exclusion requests. The ACMA introduced the levy in 2019 under the National Self‑Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2019.

A previous amendment raised the levy from 30% in the 2023 financial year to 35% for 2024 and 2025.

In its 2025 cost recovery framework, the ACMA stated that the levy percentage reflects the upfront costs of operating and maintaining the platform. The authority aims for the NSER to operate on a cost-neutral basis in 2026–27, with the levy covering only ongoing operational expenses and not initial setup costs.

Although the increase in the levy was confirmed, the precise percentage was not disclosed. However, earlier ACMA documentation estimated that the cost of delivering and operating the platform in 2026–27 would be AU$6.12 million—approximately 15% higher than the prior period.

Recent gambling reforms

The budget follows a federal government announcement made a month earlier outlining a suite of gambling reforms targeting advertising restrictions and regulation of offshore operators.

Set to take effect in January 2027, these reforms conclude years of debate sparked by the late MP Peta Murphy’s amendment to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which called for a ban on gambling advertising and proposed 31 other reform measures.

Under the new rules, televised gambling advertisements will be completely banned during live sports broadcasts. Radio advertising will also be prohibited during key family listening hours.

Additionally, digital gambling advertisements will only be permitted if users are logged in, aged 18 or over, and given the option to opt out of viewing such content.