Tabcorp, a major player in the Australian gambling industry, has recently incurred a penalty of AUD2.7 million (US$1.9 million) following an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) that revealed multiple violations related to spam and telemarketing practices.
According to the ACMA’s findings, TAB unlawfully contacted 351 VIP customers listed on Australia’s Do Not Call Register without their prior consent. Notably, 82 calls occurred outside of acceptable hours, and almost 4,000 calls were made without proper identification from TAB regarding the caller’s identity or the purpose of the calls. These infractions transpired between February 2024 and June 2025.
Furthermore, the ACMA highlighted that TAB self-reported sending over 217,000 marketing emails and SMS texts to customers who had opted out of receiving marketing communications within a 16-day timeframe in 2025.
“Individuals who enroll in the Do Not Call Register or opt-out of marketing communications are exercising a clear preference,” noted ACMA member Samantha Yorke. “It is imperative that these preferences are honored, particularly given the increased potential for financial loss and psychological distress that can arise from gambling promotions.”
“The breadth and severity of these violations indicate significant deficiencies in TAB’s compliance mechanisms. The ACMA anticipates that TAB will address these issues, and we will actively monitor their progress to ensure compliance.”
Samantha Yorke, ACMA member
Tabcorp’s Commitment to Change
In a statement provided to NewsWire, a Tabcorp representative acknowledged the findings from the ACMA.
“We are focused on compliance and initiated a comprehensive business transformation under new leadership in late 2024,” commented the spokesperson.
“Tabcorp has cooperated fully with the ACMA throughout their investigation and will maintain close collaboration with all regulatory bodies as part of our transformative journey.”
Following the announcement, shares of Tabcorp Holdings, traded on the Australian Securities Exchange, initially climbed by 2% before retracting those gains later in the day.
Tabcorp has faced a challenging few months recently. In May, Australia’s financial regulatory agency, AUSTRAC, opened an investigation into the company’s adherence to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing responsibilities, which led to a 25% drop in share price.
During that period, Tabcorp Chairman Brett Chenoweth stated the company “takes its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing commitments very seriously.”
Ongoing Regulatory Challenges
This latest fine marks the second significant penalty that Tabcorp has faced from the ACMA in just over a year. In June 2025, the operator was compelled to pay AUD4 million (US$2.6 million) for dispatching over 5,700 non-compliant marketing communications in the first half of 2024.
Earlier in February, the ACMA imposed a AUD158,400 (US$111,800) fine for accepting over 400 prohibited in-play bets on 32 tennis matches, breaching the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Tabcorp attributed this violation to a systems error related to a third-party provider.
In 2023, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) fined the operator AUD1 million (US$638,600) due to a blackout in its Wagering and Betting System during the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival.
Additionally, they incurred a AUD15,000 (US$9,618) fine in New South Wales for illegally advertising to individuals who did not possess a TAB betting account.