ACMA sets stall out on influencers advertising illegal gambling
Australian regulator has clarified that financial penalties will be distributed to influencers endorsing illegal sites.
Key points:
– Australia’s regulator – ACMA – has distributed a warning to influencers against endorsing illegal gambling sites
– The regulatory body has stated that influencers who break the law in this area will be fined between AU$59,400 – AU$2.5m
The Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued an official warning to social media influencers against illegal gambling advertising, highlighting that doing so places them in breach of the nation’s laws.
Influencers in gambling are currently making global headlines, particularly across Latin America.
In Australia, the communications regulator has specified that it has observed a recent trend of social media influencers promoting illegal online casinos via sites including; TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and others.
Subsequently, the ACMA has reiterated that this action is illegal under Australian law and will result in a minimum fine of AU$59,400 (US$38,660). Further, any individuals discovered to have posted hyperlinks to illegal gambling sites – or are deemed to have facilitated the site’s discovery in a similar way – could be eligible for fines of up to almost AU$2.5m.
This action has come with an additional explanation from the regulator that these sites can be dangerous due to their lack of protection measures against potentially vulnerable individuals – such as underage persons or anyone struggling with gambling-related harms.
As part of its announcement, the ACMA has therefore clarified that all forms of online slots – locally known and pokies – as well as online casino-style games, such as poker or blackjack, are illegal in the nation.
Good to know: This latest update comes after the ACMA blocked a total of 61 illegal gambling sites at once during April 2025
Included as part of the regulator’s online release is the following statement: “The risks of using illegal gambling services are high. These services don’t provide the consumer protections Australians expect, so players can be scammed out of their money.
“Young Australians who are active online can be more vulnerable. You may be putting people that follow you at real risk of harm. The ACMA is monitoring what influencers are promoting very closely.”
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