Betfair has been fined A$871,660 by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for sending promotional emails and texts without proper consent, and in some cases, with no unsubscribe option—a direct breach of the Spam Act 2003.
Between March and December 2024, Betfair sent 148 unauthorised messages and 6 additional VIP promotions without opt-out mechanisms, despite clear legal requirements. These communications targeted high-activity users with incentives like free event tickets and deposit bonuses, raising concerns around gambling harm and ethical marketing.
💬 ACMA Acting Chair Samantha Yorke:
“Sending marketing messages without consent or a way to unsubscribe is not only illegal but irresponsible, especially where vulnerable consumers may be impacted.”
As part of a legally binding undertaking, Betfair must:
- Conduct an independent review of its marketing practices
- Provide mandatory staff compliance training
- Run quarterly internal audits
- Submit regular reports to ACMA for two years
This is the second major enforcement in 2025 by ACMA targeting gambling operators (following PointsBet’s A$500K fine in May), reinforcing a zero-tolerance stance on data misuse and non-consensual marketing.
