Australian racing and wagering giant Tabcorp has paid more than AU$2.7 million (US$1.9 million) in penalties after the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found multiple breaches of spam and telemarketing laws by the company.
According to information from the regulatory body, it was found that Tabcorp had between February 2024 and June 2025 made telemarketing calls to VIP customers that included 351 calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register without consent, 82 calls outside permitted hours and nearly 4,000 calls without properly identifying itself as the caller or the purpose of the call.
The ACMA said it also took action after Tabcorp self-reported in 2025 that it sent more than 217,000 marketing emails and SMS over a 16-day period to customers who had unsubscribed from specific marketing channels.
Authority member Samantha Yorke said the conduct was unacceptable, particularly given the risks associated with gambling advertising and Tabcorp’s recent compliance history.
“When people join the Do Not Call Register or unsubscribe from marketing messages, they are making a clear choice,” Yorke said.
“Those choices must be respected – especially given the heightened risks of financial loss and psychological harm from gambling marketing.
“The scale and range of these breaches point to serious weaknesses in Tabcorp’s compliance systems. The ACMA expects Tabcorp to fix these issues, and we will be watching closely to ensure it meets its obligations.”
The ACMA noted that this is its second spam enforcement action against Tabcorp following a penalty of more than AU$4 million (US$2.8 million) for non-compliant SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to VIP customers in 2024.
In determining the latest spam penalty, the ACMA said it took into account that the conduct was self-reported, restricted to a 16-day period and involved customers who had withdrawn their consent to receiving marketing via a specific channel, but had not opted out of all marketing.
In addition to the financial penalties, the ACMA has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking requiring Tabcorp to conduct an independent review of its telemarketing systems, implement improvements and provide regular compliance reports.
This is in addition to a separate spam undertaking that is currently in force following the ACMA’s previous enforcement action.
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