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PointsBet has been hit with a AU$500,000 fine for breaching spam and consumer protection laws. It’s one of the biggest penalties ever issued under Australia’s Spam Act.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found PointsBet sent over 650,000 promotional emails and text messages without proper consent and even targeted people who had self-excluded from gambling.
According to the ACMA’s report, PointsBet failed to meet basic legal requirements, including giving users an easy way to unsubscribe. Worse still, some marketing messages were sent to people who had opted out — including problem gamblers.
Key breaches:
- Sent 650,000+ marketing emails and SMS without valid user consent
- Targeted self-excluded individuals, breaching harm-minimisation laws
- Ignored unsubscribe requests from users
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said PointsBet’s actions showed a “blatant disregard for the law and customer welfare”. The regulator has put PointsBet under formal compliance monitoring for the next three years.
This isn’t the first time an operator has been caught out in Australia for aggressive marketing. With online gambling promotions under the microscope, this fine sets a clear benchmark for how breaches of spam laws will be treated from now on.
In short: PointsBet’s half-a-million-dollar penalty is a reminder to all operators: user consent is not optional and targeting vulnerable people is not just unethical — it’s illegal.
