An investigation by A Current Affair has found that two former AFL players have been promoting illegal online casinos to large social media audiences, raising regulatory concerns and exposing them to significant financial penalties.
Ex-Brisbane Lions players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson were identified as actively promoting offshore operator Vegastars, including running a AUD5,000 ($3,580) giveaway campaign tied to ongoing fuel price pressures. Online casino gambling, including slot-style games and roulette played for real money, remains prohibited under Australian law, even if such services are licensed offshore.
Tim Costello of the Alliance for Gambling Reform described the promotions as “outrageous” and “utterly irresponsible,” emphasizing the influence professional athletes hold over younger audiences. According to Responsible Wagering Australia, Australians lose approximately AUD3.9 billion ($2.79 billion) annually to illegal offshore gambling operators. The group’s chief executive, Kai Cantwell, said the unregulated sector is expanding at a rate two-and-a-half times faster than the licensed market.
Cantwell noted that illegal operators offer no consumer protections, pay no domestic taxes, and frequently target individuals registered with BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion system. Costello also questioned the broader regulatory framework, arguing that Australia lacks a dedicated gambling regulator despite having some of the highest per-capita gambling losses globally.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority said it is engaging with influencers to warn them of the legal risks associated with promoting illegal gambling services and is currently examining a number of potential breaches. Under Australian law, individuals promoting illegal online gambling services may face civil penalties of up to AUD59,400 ($42,600) per contravention, while those facilitating access – such as by providing links – risk fines of up to AUD2.475 million ($1.77 million).
The regulator added that website blocking remains a key enforcement tool. Since November 2019, the ACMA has blocked 1,564 illegal gambling and affiliate websites, while more than 225 operators have withdrawn from the Australian market since strengthened enforcement began in 2017. Although the Vegastars domain has been blocked, the ACMA acknowledged that offshore operators frequently deploy mirror sites to bypass restrictions. The regulator said it continues to monitor and re-block such domains as they emerge.
Neither Robinson nor Mathieson responded to repeated requests for comment from A Current Affair. At the time of publication, their promotional content and associated Vegastars sites remained accessible online.
