The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has a message for social media influencers who are thinking about promoting illegal gambling and that message is “don’t do it.” And just in case any errant Tik-Tokers think the ACMA isn’t serious about their message, the regulatory authority says it’s ready to impose fines of up to $2 million AU ($1.3 million USD) on influencers who violate the order.
Promoting illegal gambling has been a specific violation in Australia since 2001, but the ACMA reports that recently there’s been an upsurge in the number of Facebook and Tik Tok influencers who are doing exactly that. Given the Aussie obsession with gambling, none of this isn’t particularly surprising, but the ACMA warned in a recent press release that they’re very serious about the issue saying, “Influencers must understand the promotion of illegal gambling services in Australia is illegal, and substantial penalties apply. If you’re an influencer and profit from promoting illegal games and wagering services to Australians, you are breaking the law.”
Fines for violating the ban on promoting illegal gambling start at around $60,000 AU ($40,000 USD) and move up in severity based on factors such as whether or not they were live streaming gameplay. The most severe penalties are aimed at those influencers who share links to offshore casinos.
The ACMA explained the need for such severe actions saying, “The risks of using illegal gambling services are high,” ACMA said. “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. ACMA is monitoring what influencers are promoting very closely.”
This new focus on social media influencers is part of broader campaign of increased enforcement by the ACMA to stomp out offshore gambling and keep gameplay in the regulated space.