The register, known as BetStop, will be rolled out by the federal government from August 21.

The free service will allow people to voluntarily exclude themselves from online betting companies for periods ranging from three months to permanently.

It will apply to all 150 licensed Australian online betting companies, with providers unable to open accounts for, accept bets from or send marketing material to people on the register.

The launch of the register next month follows a parliamentary report looking into online gambling reform.

The report recommended a ban on online betting advertising, a suggestion the government is considering.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the report had only landed on her desk two weeks ago and the government was working through the recommendations as quickly as possible.

“Industry is well aware of the comments that I have made on the record, that the status quo is unsustainable,” she said on Monday.

“But we will work through all of these stakeholder consultations, ensuring that at all times we adhere, to the utmost, to the principle of harm minimisation.”

In the meantime, BetStop will be promoted on betting websites and apps and in marketing material as part of a public awareness campaign.

Betting providers will be required to verify a customer’s identity when they register for an account and before a bet can be placed.

The changes will replace previous requirements under which a customer’s identity had to be verified within 72 hours.

Ms Rowland said the rollout of BetStop would complement other betting reform measures, which included new warning messages at the end of ads.

“BetStop is the last of 10 measures to be implemented under the national consumer protection framework for online wagering, to empower Australians through stronger consumer protections,” she said.

“The launch of Australia’s first national self-exclusion register, BetStop, is a game-changer and will make it easy for vulnerable consumers to self-exclude from online wagering services.”

Alliance for Gambling Reform chief executive Carol Bennett said the rollout of BetStop was overdue.

“For far too long, Australia has had an ineffective, patchwork of self-exclusion programs that have been poorly enforced,” she said.

“It has allowed the predatory gambling industry to continue to offer unethical inducements to people who have said they wanted to stop gambling.”

Responsible Wagering Australia chief executive Kai Cantwell said the industry would work with the government to ensure the register was rolled out effectively.

“Around Melbourne Cup is always a popular time for people to put a bet and enjoy the best of Australian racing, but we must ensure that the BetStop technology is tested and capable of being used at one of the busiest times in the calendar,” he said.

“We implore the Australian Communications and Media Authority to work closely with providers on load testing and ensuring there are no gaps.”