ACMA Issues Formal Warnings to Former AFL Players for Promotion of Prohibited Vegastars Gambling Service

ACMA issued formal warnings to ex-AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson for promoting illegal Vegastars site in March-April 2026. Both removed content after contact. Move precedes 1 January 2027 ban on athletes and influencers in wagering ads.

SCCG Take — Enforcement against individual influencers reinforces the regulator’s intent to police promotional channels ahead of tighter 2027 advertising rules.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has issued formal warnings to two former AFL players for promoting the prohibited online gambling service Vegastars.

Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson published content between March and April 2026 that displayed the service name, logo, website address, gameplay footage and promotional commentary. The ACMA had already moved against Vegastars itself by requesting internet service providers block its website in January 2026.

Robinson, who played 247 games for Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, used Instagram and the Rip Through It podcast on YouTube. Mathieson, who played 72 games for the Lions, promoted the service on Instagram.

Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA member, said the regulator has increased its monitoring of illegal gambling promotion online. “Illegal gambling services can cause significant financial harm to individuals and families, and influencers need to be aware that promoting these services is against the law,” she said.

After the ACMA contacted both men, they accepted responsibility, ended their involvement with Vegastars and removed all promotional material. Formal warnings were issued to ensure future compliance.

The warnings arrived days after the ACMA published guidance on new wagering advertising laws. From 1 January 2027 those rules will prohibit licensed wagering providers from using current or former athletes, social media influencers and other notable people to promote services, according to Inside Asian Gaming.

Lidgerwood stated that all influencers are now firmly on notice. Anyone who uses their online profile to promote illegal gambling services will face regulatory action which can include significant financial penalties. The current cases form part of a pattern of enforcement directed at individual promoters rather than operators alone.

The timing underscores the regulator’s focus on compliance in the lead-up to the broader prohibition. Licensees and personalities alike face clearer lines on what constitutes acceptable promotion once the new framework takes effect.

Reporting: Inside Asian Gaming

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