For violating Australia's "Spam Act," renowned betting operator Betfair was heavily fined by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with a penalty of 871,660 Australian dollars (approximately 567,000 US dollars). The violation primarily involved sending 148 promotional emails and text messages to VIP customers who had not agreed to receive marketing information or had withdrawn their consent, including six messages that did not provide an "unsubscribe" option.
This behavior occurred between March and December 2024, causing strong dissatisfaction among regulators. ACMA member Samantha Yorke stated that even VIP customers should not be deprived of basic privacy and choice rights: "Being part of a VIP program does not mean they are capable of handling greater marketing pressure."
ACMA pointed out that Betfair, by communicating without permission, attempted to promote activities such as event tickets and other rewards, severely violating the spam laws that have been in place for 20 years. Notably, ACMA has issued over 16.6 million Australian dollars in fines for violations in the past 18 months, with another betting company, Tab, fined 4 million Australian dollars in June 2025 for similar issues.
In addition to the fine, Betfair is also required to participate in a two-year compliance commitment program, which includes employee training, quarterly audits, and regular reports to the regulatory authority to ensure transparent and compliant marketing practices and prevent similar incidents from occurring again.
