ACMA Warns Former AFL Players Over Vegastars Casino Promotion
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued formal warnings to two former AFL players turned online personalities, Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson, for promoting an illegal offshore gambling service. The regulator announced the action on 22 October 2026. The service involved is Vegastars, an online casino that cannot legally be offered to people in Australia.
What the ACMA found
According to the ACMA findings as reported by Gambling.com and Gaming.net, both men published promotional content for Vegastars between March and April 2026:
- Robinson, who played 247 AFL games for Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, promoted the site on Instagram and in content for the Rip Through It podcast on YouTube.
- Mathieson, who played 72 games for the Brisbane Lions, promoted the site on Instagram.
- The posts showed the Vegastars name, logo and web address, together with gameplay footage and commentary encouraging viewers to use the service.
Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, online casino games and pokies cannot be offered to Australians, and it is also an offence to advertise or promote those prohibited services. When contacted by the regulator, both men accepted responsibility, ended their arrangements with Vegastars and removed the material. Reports say both told the ACMA they did not know the service was prohibited; the regulator noted that the law does not require a promoter to know this.
Warning, not a fine
The ACMA chose formal warnings rather than court action or financial penalties. ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said illegal gambling can cause serious financial harm and that all influencers are now on notice. October coverage of the decision lists the maximum civil penalties as up to $65,520 per contravention for promoting an illegal gambling service, and up to $2.73 million for facilitating access, for example by posting links or directing people to the site.
Vegastars was already on the regulator’s radar. It was among the sites named in the ACMA’s February 2026 update on illegal gambling websites that Australian internet providers were asked to block.
Second influencer case in four months
This is not the first time the ACMA has acted against an individual promoter. On 7 July 2026 it formally warned mixed martial arts fighter Jamie Mullarkey over sponsored Instagram posts made in 2025 for an offshore gambling service. The regulator described that matter as its first enforcement action against an influencer for breaching the online gambling rules. In both cases the mitigating factors were similar: the promoters cooperated, ended the arrangements and removed the content.
The ACMA has said it has increased monitoring of social media for illegal gambling promotion. By September 2026 it had asked internet providers to block 1,822 illegal gambling and affiliate websites; our report on the September blocking round has the details.
Separate rule for licensed bookmakers
The warnings concern illegal offshore services. A different restriction starts on 1 January 2027, when licensed Australian wagering providers will be barred from using current or former athletes, social media influencers and other notable people in their advertising. The ACMA published guidance on that ban days before these warnings; see our coverage of the notable persons guidance.
What it means for players
A recommendation from a well-known sportsperson says nothing about whether a gambling site is legal. Offshore casinos promoted on social media are not licensed in Australia, and players have no access to Australian dispute schemes or BetStop protections there. Our guides explain whether online gambling is legal in Australia, how ACMA site blocking works and how to spot a scam casino.
Former AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson, who promoted the offshore casino Vegastars on Instagram and, in Robinson’s case, on a YouTube podcast between March and April 2026.
No. The ACMA issued formal warnings. Both men removed the posts and ended their involvement with Vegastars after the regulator contacted them.
October 2026 coverage of the decision cites civil penalties of up to $65,520 per contravention for promoting an illegal gambling service and up to $2.73 million for facilitating access to one.
Sources
- ACMA: Former footballers warned for promoting illegal gambling site (October 2026)
- Gambling.com: ACMA warns two former AFL players over illegal gambling ads (22 October 2026)
- Gaming.net: Australian regulator warns ex-AFL players over illegal gambling ads (October 2026)
- ACMA: Mixed martial arts fighter warned for promoting illegal online gambling site (July 2026)
- The Straight: ACMA warns MMA fighter in first crackdown on gambling influencers (7 July 2026)
Header photo: Anzac Day Match 2010, Collingwood-Essendon by Gavin Anderson, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0.