- Allegations have surfaced recently
Former Brisbane Lions players Rhys Mathieson and Mitch Robinson have been accused of promoting illegal online casinos on social media.
The duo are alleged to have promoted the offshore company Vegastars and offered a $5,000 sponsored giveaway.
Both Mathieson and Robinson have reportedly endorsed the website, despite online casino platforms that offer real-money winnings being illegal.
Mathieson and Robinson currently co-host the AFL podcast Rip Through It, which boasts 5,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Penalties of up to $2.5million can be imposed on those found in breach of the law, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
‘Website blocking is one of the primary ways the ACMA disrupts illegal online gambling services,’ an ACMA statement sent to Nine read.
Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson (pictured) have been accused of promoting illegal online casinos
Both Mathieson and Robinson have reportedly endorsed the website, despite online casino platforms that offer real-money winnings being illegal
‘Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1,564 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.
‘While the Vegastars website has been blocked, we are aware illegal gambling services set up ‘mirror’ sites to circumvent the blocks.
‘We monitor this activity and have re-blocked a number of Vegastars mirror sites.’
The allegations come just weeks after the Federal Government announced a partial ban on gambling advertising in an effort to curb the betting epidemic.
The plan, unveiled by Anthony Albanese at the National Press Club, includes capping TV ads at three per hour between 6am and 8:30pm.
It also introduces a total ban on radio advertisements during school pick-up and drop-off periods.
‘We are getting the balance right – allowing adults to gamble if they choose, while ensuring children aren’t exposed to betting ads everywhere they look,’ the Prime Minister said at the time of the announcement.
Australians are understood to be losing billions of dollars each year to illegal offshore betting sites, according to Responsible Wagering Australia.
