Gambling Giant Tabcorp Penalised $4 Million Over SMS, WhatsApp Spam

Tabcorp sent over 5,700 spam messages to VIPs without consent or opt-out options.

This photo taken shows a warning sign for gamblers posted at the Randwick Labor Club in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 21, 2012. William West/AFP via Getty Images

One of Australia’s largest gambling and wagering companies Tabcorp has been hit with a $4 million fine after it was found to have sent more than 5,700 marketing messages to VIP customers in breach of Australian spam laws.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said the messages, sent between February and May 2024 via SMS and WhatsApp, either lacked an unsubscribe option or failed to clearly identify the sender.