ACMA warns ex-AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson over Vegastars promotions
Regulator issued formal warnings after prior operator notice and site-blocking request
Key Takeaways
- ACMA issued formal warnings to Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson for promoting Vegastars between March and April 2026.
- Neptune Projects S.R.L, operator of Vegastars, received a formal warning on 20 January 2026 and ACMA requested the site's blocking in January, announced 13 February 2026.
- ACMA lists <f0>nine</f0> Vegastars domains in its blocklist and had blocked <f0>1,822</f0> sites from November 2019 to 24 September 2026.
- Maximum statutory penalties for promoting illegal gambling are A$65,520 per contravention for individuals and A$2.73 million for facilitating access; formal warnings do not carry monetary fines.
ACMA issued formal warnings to former AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson for promoting Vegastars, a prohibited offshore online casino, in posts between March and April 2026, the regulator said in a press release dated 22 October 2026. ACMA specifies Robinson promoted the site on Instagram and on the YouTube podcast "Rip Through It," while Mathieson promoted it on Instagram.
What ACMA did and when
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) published a formal warning on 22 October 2026 directed at Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson for promoting Vegastars. ACMA notes it had already issued a formal warning to the operator of Vegastars, Neptune Projects S.R.L, on 20 January 2026 and that in January it asked internet service providers to block the site; the regulator publicly announced that blocking request on 13 February 2026. In its blocklist, ACMA now lists nine Vegastars domains, from vegastars.com to vegastars11.com.
The 22 October communication says the ex-players' posts included the service name, the logo, the website address, gaming imagery and promotional commentary. Robinson promoted Vegastars on Instagram and on the YouTube podcast "Rip Through It"; Mathieson did so on Instagram. ACMA documents that the promotions were disseminated between March and April 2026.
Penalties on paper and precedents
The law sets high maximums. The maximum civil penalty for a person who promotes an illegal gambling service is A$65,520 per contravention, and up to A$2.73 million for facilitating access. ACMA recalls that in July 2026 it previously issued a formal warning to mixed martial artist Jamie Mullarkey for similar conduct; Mullarkey also received a warning even though ACMA then calculated the maximum amounts as A$59,400 and A$2,475,000 under the former penalty-unit rate. From 1 July 2026 the common 'penalty unit' value is A$364, a figure ACMA uses to convert the amounts to A$65,520 and A$2.73 million.
ACMA specifies that formal warnings do not carry a financial penalty. The regulator considered cooperation, contract termination and withdrawal of promotional material as mitigating factors in prior cases.
"All influencers are now firmly on notice," said Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA member, after contacts with the parties. "Anyone who uses their online profile to promote illegal gambling services will face regulatory action which can include significant financial penalties."
ACMA added that both ex-players accepted responsibility when contacted, ended their relationship with Vegastars and removed the promotional material.
Blockings, reach and operational limits
ACMA says that from its first blocking request in November 2019 to 24 September 2026 it has blocked 1,822 illegal gambling websites and recorded the market withdrawal of more than 230 illegal services since 2017. The regulator actively monitors mirror domains and re-blocks them when they reappear.
The regulator highlights a specific limit: blocking domains prevents a browser from loading an address, but it does not stop an Instagram post, a podcast segment or a giveaway reaching an audience and directing users to mirror domains. ACMA documents that in April media such as Nine's A Current Affair reported promotions that included a A$5,000 prize, roughly US$3,500, linked to fuel-price pressures.
Regulatory context and the rule on paid celebrity endorsements
ACMA reminds that from 1 January 2027 licensed operators will not be able to include current athletes or former players, celebrities or influencers in betting advertising; responsibility will rest with the operator and the penalty will be 1,000 penalty units, that is A$364,000 per placement. ACMA notes that the prohibition in licensed channels removes an income stream for recognised personalities; promoting offshore illegal services was already unlawful and, to date, has resulted in public warnings rather than financial fines.
What has changed and what remains to be seen
ACMA presents the warnings to Robinson and Mathieson as a continuation of its compliance campaign against social-media promotion of prohibited services. The regulator has stated that after the formal warning to operator Neptune Projects S.R.L (Vegastars) on 20 January 2026 for an alleged contravention of subsection 15(2A) of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, a blocking request followed in January and its inclusion on the blocklist was communicated on 13 February 2026.
ACMA had already dealt with individual cases by warning in July and October 2026; if a third action results in a civil penalty it would demonstrate effective use of the enforcement pathway rather than warnings, but ACMA did not announce fines today against Robinson or Mathieson.
Documents referred
Documents cited by ACMA include the formal warning to Neptune Projects S.R.L (Vegastars) of 20 January 2026, the blocking notice of 13 February 2026, the 22 October 2026 notice about the ex-players and the July 2026 warning to Jamie Mullarkey. Media reports that prompted the inquiry include pieces on Nine's A Current Affair, Asia Gaming Brief and Focus Gaming News. For more regulatory detail see the [blocklist](/regulation) and ACMA's published decisions in its [news](/news) releases. Related regulation
Frequently Asked Questions
When did ACMA publish the warning to the ex-players?
ACMA published the formal warning on 22 October 2026; the regulator states the promotions occurred between March and April 2026 and that the parties removed the material after ACMA contacted them.
What action did ACMA take against the Vegastars operator and when?
ACMA issued a formal warning to Neptune Projects S.R.L on 20 January 2026 and requested internet service providers block the site in January; ACMA announced the site's inclusion on its blocklist on 13 February 2026.
What maximum penalties does the law provide for promoting an illegal gambling service in Australia?
The law provides a maximum civil penalty of A$65,520 per contravention for individuals who promote an illegal gambling service and up to A$2.73 million for facilitating access, calculated using the A$364 penalty unit value in force from 1 July 2026.
How many Vegastars domains appear on ACMA's blocklist?
ACMA's blocklist includes nine Vegastars domains, from vegastars.com through vegastars11.com, according to the regulator's public record.
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About the author
Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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