With a loan. 
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Independent Senator David Pocock has accused the Albanese government of “clearly emboldening” the gambling industry through its ongoing failure to act on urgent reforms, saying Labor’s inaction has created the perfect conditions for companies like Tabcorp to aggressively expand inducements and in-venue betting.
TAB penalised $4 million for spamming VIP customers
Tabcorp Holdings Limited (TAB) has been penalised $4,003,270 for sending more than 5,700 marketing messages to customers of its VIP program that broke Australia’s spam laws.
An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found that TAB sent 2,598 SMS and WhatsApp messages to VIP customers between 1 February and 1 May 2024 without providing an option to unsubscribe from the messages.
The ACMA also found that 3,148 SMS and WhatsApp messages did not contain adequate sender information across the same period, and 11 SMS messages were sent without consent between 15 February and 29 April 2024.
Authority Member Samantha Yorke said the breaches were deeply concerning as they involved non-compliance by a large and established gambling provider that targeted VIP program customers.
“This is the first time the ACMA has investigated and found spam breaches in a gambling VIP program. These programs often involve personalised messages offering incentives such as bonus bets, deposit matching, rebates and offers of tickets to sporting and other events.
“The gambling industry needs to understand that spam laws apply to all direct marketing—whether it’s generic campaigns or personalised messages,” Ms Yorke said.
“VIPs should not be confused with gambling ‘high-rollers’. These types of gambling VIP programs can involve customers who are not well off and are experiencing significant losses,” Ms Yorke said.
“It is utterly unacceptable that TAB did not have adequate spam compliance systems in place.”
Under the Spam Act 2003, businesses must have consent before sending marketing messages. Messages sent with consent must also contain a working unsubscribe option and information about the sender.
“When people make choices to unsubscribe from a service they must be able to do so easily and their decisions must be respected by companies,” Ms Yorke said.
TAB has also entered into a 3-year court-enforceable undertaking. This includes an independent review of its direct marketing systems, making improvements, running quarterly audits of its VIP direct marketing, training staff and reporting to the ACMA regularly.
“The ACMA will be watching closely to ensure TAB meets its commitments and complies with the spam laws in future,” Ms Yorke said.
Cracking down on gambling safeguards and spam rules are current compliance priorities for the ACMA. Over the last 18 months businesses have been penalised over $16.9 million for spam breaches.
The ACMA has released a statement of expectations to help businesses understand how to use consent properly in e-marketing.
To report spam or learn how to reduce unwanted messages, visit the ACMA website.
ACMA:
Social media influencers: are you breaking the law?
Social media influencers are on notice: stop promoting illegal gambling services to Australians. If you don’t, you risk facing significant penalties.
The ACMA has seen influencers promoting illegal online casinos on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok and other social media. Influencers have been sharing links, promoting giveaways, or stream themselves gambling. The risks and penalties are high.
Find out:
- what types of online gambling services are illegal in Australia
- what actions will land influencers in hot water
- what the penalties are.
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What a mess.
Star Entertainment’s Brisvegas Casino deal with HK investors looks very shaky. I hope it brings down the whole company.
Australia’s peak medical body has issued a stark warning over a disturbing new trend: influencers allegedly glamorising poker machines on social media, with content described as “shocking” and dangerous for young audiences.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is calling on politicians and platforms to act swiftly, following the release of videos showing influencers inserting hundreds of dollars into pokies and encouraging followers to like or follow their accounts in exchange for continued play.