Australia's communications regulator has formally warned former AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson after finding that they promoted a prohibited online gambling service. The Australian Communications and Media Authority said the material advertised Vegastars, a service it had already targeted for internet blocking in January 2026.
The promotional content appeared between March and April. ACMA said it included the service's name, logo and web address as well as gameplay footage and favorable commentary. Robinson used Instagram and the Rip Through It podcast on YouTube, while Mathieson posted on Instagram.
Both men accepted responsibility after the regulator contacted them, ended their involvement and removed the promotional material, according to ACMA and Inside Asian Gaming. The enforcement action was a formal warning rather than a criminal charge or financial penalty.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said the regulator has stepped up monitoring of online promotion and warned that future breaches may attract substantial civil penalties. The case is separate from new Australian advertising rules taking effect on January 1, 2027, which will restrict licensed wagering companies from using current or former athletes and other notable people in promotions.
