Gambling giant Sportsbet pressured the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) into “watering down” an enforcement announcement, according to new documents released to the ABC.
In 2022, the watchdog found Sportsbet continued to text and email tens of thousands of customers even though they had already tried to unsubscribe from marketing messages, hitting the company with a then-record fine for breaching Australia’s spam laws.
An ABC investigation has revealed Sportsbet pushed the watchdog to change key quotes in a draft media release by chair Nerida O’Loughlin before it was released to the public.
Federal independent MP Andrew Wilkie has questioned the watchdog’s judgement.
