Australian gambling giant Tabcorp is facing a hefty $4 million penalty for violating Australian spam laws. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) revealed that the company bombarded over 5,700 VIP customers with unwanted marketing messages via SMS and WhatsApp between February and May 2024.

The ACMA cited two key violations: a significant number of messages lacked a clear unsubscribe option, leaving recipients with no easy way to opt out of future communications. Furthermore, a large portion of the messages failed to properly identify Tabcorp as the sender, leaving recipients unsure of the message’s origin.

The breakdown of violations is stark: 2,598 messages lacked an unsubscribe function, while 3,148 others lacked clear sender identification. Adding insult to injury, a further 11 messages were sent without the recipients’ consent. The ACMA emphasized the severity of these breaches, highlighting the targeted nature of the communications directed at Tabcorp’s VIP clientele.

This substantial fine serves as a strong warning to other businesses about the importance of complying with Australian spam regulations. The case underscores the need for companies to prioritize customer consent and ensure their marketing communications are both transparent and provide easy opt-out mechanisms.