The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has warned social media influencers that promoting unregulated gambling websites to Australians could expose them to substantial civil penalties. The warning, published in an article on the regulator's website, was reported by Gambling Industry News on 25 June 2025.
"Social media influencers are on notice: stop promoting illegal gambling services to Australians. If you don't, you risk facing significant penalties." — ACMA, article on its website
What the regulator says
According to the report, the ACMA's statement said online slots and casino games such as blackjack are illegal in Australia, as is in-play online sports betting. Online casino services are prohibited under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The regulator said influencers who promote illegal forms of gambling through livestreams, links or promotional giveaways can be penalised. For individual influencers, it said, "breaching the law can result in civil penalties of up to (AU) $59,400."
The ACMA also said those who facilitate access to illegal online gambling services, for example by providing hyperlinks, could face far greater penalties. In the regulator's words, "for individuals this could be up to $2,475,000." The trade publication's headline figure was AU$2.5 million, or about US$1.6 million. The source material does not say whether any influencer has yet been penalised under these provisions.
The wider context
Gambling Industry News described the warning as the latest move by the ACMA to rein in gambling in Australia. It cited an estimate that Australians bet $244.3 billion in 2023 and lost $31.5 billion. The report described this as the highest per capita figure in the world. The source does not name the origin of those estimates.
The report also noted that many sweepstakes casinos operate in a grey area in Australia. It said Stake and VGW were both set up by Australians, Ed Craven and Laurence Escalante respectively. Stake is blocked in Australia, according to the report, despite having offices in the country. The report said Craven has indicated interest in applying for a licence in future. The source does not say what licence he means or where he would apply.
The article also described other consumer-protection measures. It said Australia launched BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, and that the ACMA recently fined Unibet and PointsBet over breaches involving promotion to people on the register and failure to close accounts. It added that Tabcorp has been criticised by Senators over its promotions at betting venues. Martin Thomas, chief executive of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, also criticised Tabcorp. He called on the federal government to implement all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Review. He said the report had "gathered dust for more than two years."
Overseas parallels
The report said influencers are facing scrutiny in the United States as well. TV host Ryan Seacrest, who promotes Chumba Casino, part of VGW, is facing a lawsuit in California over claims the company operates illegally. These are claims in a legal action. The source does not report any finding. California lawmakers this week amended a bill that would target both sweepstakes casinos and those who promote them. Drake also has a deal promoting Stake, according to the report.
Gambling Industry News said the ACMA has blocked numerous foreign sites. It added that the regulator could in theory also target influencers promoting illegal platforms from overseas, such as Seacrest and Drake, if they were deemed to be specifically targeting Australians. That is the publication's assessment, not a statement from the ACMA.
The source does not disclose when the ACMA's article was first published or whether enforcement action against specific influencers is planned.