The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued formal warnings to two former Australian Football League (AFL) players for promoting an offshore online casino that is illegal in Australia. The warnings were announced on Thursday, following an investigation into Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson, who advertised Vegastars, a gambling platform previously labeled by the ACMA as a banned interactive gambling service.
Robinson, who co-hosts the Rip Through It podcast and is a former AFL athlete, was identified in an ACMA report released on September 30, 2026. The regulatory body found that he had shared prohibited gambling advertisements on two occasions: during a YouTube podcast episode on March 10 and in an Instagram video on April 6, 2026. Robinson had entered into commercial agreements with Vegastars' operators in March 2026, earning about AU$120,000 ($84,132). Following an ACMA notice issued in May, he removed the promotional materials from his platforms.
Mathieson, another former AFL player, was cited in a final ACMA report dated October 1, 2026. The authority discovered that he had posted three infringing videos on Instagram—one on March 20 and two on April 6, 2026. Mathieson's promotions reportedly earned him approximately AU$19,200. Despite claiming he was unaware of Vegastars' illegal status, the ACMA stated that lack of awareness does not absolve individuals from liability under the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA).
The warnings were issued under Section 64A of the IGA, which stipulates significant civil penalties for promoting banned gambling services. Individuals can face fines of up to AU$65,520 per violation, while entities involved in facilitating access to these services may incur penalties reaching AU$2.73 million.
The ACMA has been monitoring Vegastars closely since January 2026, when the operator, Neptune Projects SRL, received a formal warning, and ISPs were asked to block access to Vegastars' websites. Despite these actions, it has been reported that the site continues to be accessible to Australian users through mirror sites, prompting the ACMA to pursue further ISP blocks.
In response to the growing trend of illegal gambling promotion by influencers, the ACMA has intensified its scrutiny of such activities. Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA board member, emphasized that the authority has increased monitoring efforts and reminded influencers that promoting illegal gambling is against the law. She warned that those using their public profiles to endorse these activities would face regulatory consequences, including substantial financial penalties.
Starting January 1, 2027, new advertising restrictions will be implemented, preventing licensed wagering providers from hiring current or former athletes, social media influencers, or other notable figures to endorse their services. This initiative aims to diminish the impact of celebrity endorsements on gambling products.
Concerns regarding this regulation were discussed during a Senate inquiry into the proposed laws, where Senator Sarah Hanson-Young had tense exchanges with the ACMA about the influence of well-known personalities in gambling promotions. In an earlier statement, Sportsbet warned that the draft legislation could possibly restrict anyone with an Instagram account from promoting gambling services.
