![\"Betfair](\"https:\/\/readwrite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Spam-messages-300x214.jpg\")
<\/div>\nBetting giant Betfair is facing a AUD 871,660 ($566,348) penalty after sending messages to VIP customers that don’t comply with Australian spam laws.<\/p>\n
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced<\/a> that it will be charging Betfair with the penalty for sending commercial messages that didn’t comply with national spam laws, after an investigation.<\/p>\n The examination revealed that Betfair sent 148 emails and text messages between March and December 2024 to VIP customers that did not consent or had withdrawn consent for such communication. Six messages were also found that did not contain an option to unsubscribe.<\/p>\n Betfair has been penalised $871,660 for breaching Australia\u2019s spam laws, following an ACMA investigation that found the company sent marketing messages without valid consent, including to customers who had previously unsubscribed.<\/p>\n — ACMA (@acmadotgov) July 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The communications were centered around offers for account deposits and free tickets to events, targeted towards VIP customers. The ACMA said that it operated under a no tolerance policy for non-compliance under the Spam Act in the gambling sector.<\/p>\n \u201cVIP programs are generally designed to attract and retain customers with high betting activity, however this doesn\u2019t mean VIP customers are well off or can afford losses,\u201d said Authority Member Samantha Yorke.<\/p>\n \u201cSending promotional gambling messages to these customers without consent or with no option to opt-out is incredibly irresponsible in addition to being non-compliant.<\/p>\n \u201cThe spam laws have been in place for over twenty years and it is simply unacceptable for businesses not to respect the rights of their customers.\u201d<\/p>\n As well as facing the penalty of $871,660, Betfair will also start a two-year court-mandated program that will demand an independent review of its marketing messages. From there, the company will be required to implement any logical improvements, such as staff training, quarterly internal audits, and regular reporting to the ACMA.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the second recent ACMA enforcement action concerning VIP customers in the gambling sector,\u201d Yorke said. “Providers are on notice that they need to have their compliance systems in order.”<\/p>\n The ACMA reported that, over the last 18 months, businesses have paid over $16.6 million in spam penalties under the Spam Law. Enforcing compliance remains a major focus for the organization.<\/p>\n This comes after Betfair was recently in the headlines for a breach of customer data<\/a>.<\/p>\n ReadWrite has contacted Betfair for comment.<\/p>\n Featured image: Unsplash<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The post Betfair faces six-figure penalty after breaking Australian spam laws<\/a> appeared first on ReadWrite<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
![\"\ud83d\udd17\"](\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.1.0\/72x72\/1f517.png\")
Read more: https:\/\/t.co\/9eK6yxiNhW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Dkvay9HTmd<\/a><\/p>\nWhat’s next for Betfair?<\/span><\/h2>\n