The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has formally warned mixed martial arts fighter Jamie Mullarkey for violating Australia’s online gambling laws by promoting an illegal offshore gambling service through sponsored posts on social media.
ACMA Warns Mullarkey
Аccording to ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood, the enforcement action was intended to put social media influencers and their agents on notice. The authority wanted to highlight the significant influence athletes and online personalities with large followings can have over their audiences. She said such influence could encourage people to use illegal gambling services.
Lidgerwood described the action as the first time the ACMA had taken enforcement action against an influencer for breaching Australia’s online gambling laws. She said the ACMA had issued a formal warning in this case after considering the specific circumstances, including that Mullarkey had promptly ended the sponsorship arrangement, cooperated with the investigation, and quickly removed the offending material.
She added that he had accepted responsibility for his conduct and expressed genuine remorse. Lidgerwood also stressed that all influencers should be aware that promoting illegal online gambling websites is against the law and can result in significant penalties.
This action is part of ACMA’s ongoing crackdown on illegal gambling as earlier this year, the regulator vowed to go after influencers who promote such services and websites.
What Did ACMA’s Investigation Find?
ACMA’s investigation found that Mullarkey promoted an illegal offshore gambling service through sponsored posts on his Instagram account in 2025. His profile also referenced his sponsorship arrangement with the operator, including a link to the gambling website and posts featuring promotional hashtags associated with the service.
Under Australia’s online gambling laws, promoting illegal gambling services is prohibited. This includes publishing social media posts or live streams featuring such services, sharing links to them, or running promotional giveaways tied to illegal gambling operators.
Individuals who promote or publicize illegal online gambling services can face civil penalties of up to $59,400. Those who facilitate access to illegal gambling services, including by providing hyperlinks or directing users to the services, may be liable for penalties of up to $2.475 million.
Lidgerwood said the ACMA would use its full range of regulatory powers, including seeking substantial civil penalties where appropriate, against influencers who promote or facilitate access to illegal gambling services.
In other news about ACMA, a few weeks ago, the watchdog placed Entain in a remediation program after it discovered many breaches in the company’s player self-exclusion system.