Two former Australian Football League (AFL) players have received formal warnings from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for promoting an offshore online casino that is illegal under Australian law.
On Thursday, the ACMA revealed that Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson had advertised Vegastars, an online gambling platform previously classified as a prohibited interactive gambling service. The promotions, which included videos displaying Vegastars branding, gameplay footage, and endorsements, were posted between March and April 2026.
Mitch Robinson, co-host of the Rip Through It podcast and a former AFL player, was noted in an ACMA final report dated September 30, 2026. The ACMA found that he published illegal gambling advertisements on two occasions: during a YouTube podcast episode on March 10, 2026, and in an Instagram video on April 6, 2026. He entered into two commercial agreements with Vegastars’ operators in March 2026, receiving approximately AU$120,000 ($84,132) in payments for these promotions. After being notified by the ACMA in May, he removed the promotional content from his platforms.
Rhys Mathieson, another ex-AFL player, was referenced in a final ACMA report dated October 1, 2026. The authority determined that Mathieson shared three infringing Instagram videos, including one on March 20 and two on April 6, 2026. He reportedly earned around AU$19,200 from these promotions. While Mathieson expressed remorse and claimed he was unaware of Vegastars’ prohibited status, the ACMA emphasized that ignorance of the law does not protect individuals from violations under the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA).
The formal warnings were issued in line with Section 64A of the IGA. The ACMA warned that individuals promoting prohibited gambling services risk civil penalties of up to AU$65,520 per violation, while entities facilitating access could face fines of up to AU$2.73 million.
The operator of Vegastars, Neptune Projects SRL, has faced regulatory scrutiny since January 2026 when the ACMA issued a warning and requested that Australian internet service providers block the main and alternative Vegastars websites. However, the ACMA has reported that Vegastars continues to offer access to Australian users through multiple mirror sites, leading the authority to seek further ISP blocks.
In response to these violations, the ACMA is intensifying its monitoring of illegal gambling promotions by social media influencers and public figures. Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA board member, stated that their efforts have been heightened and emphasized that influencers must understand that promoting these services is against the law. She warned that individuals who use their public profiles to endorse prohibited gambling activities would face significant financial penalties and regulatory action.
New measures effective January 1, 2027, will impose strict advertising restrictions, barring licensed wagering providers from engaging current or former athletes, social media influencers, or notable personalities to promote their services. This initiative aims to mitigate the influence of prominent figures in advertising betting products.
The development follows discussions at a Senate inquiry into relevant legislation, where Senator Sarah Hanson-Young confronted the ACMA over the inclusion of notable individuals in promotional content. Sportsbet cautioned that “anyone with an Instagram account” might fall within the scope of the new draft regulations.
