Meta Fails to Act on Illegal Crypto Gambling Promotions Despite Warnings from Australian Regulator

Despite multiple reports and clear warnings from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), Meta has failed to take down posts promoting illegal offshore crypto gambling services. This includes content shared by Australian influencer Dinah, who used her large Instagram following to promote Rainbet, a crypto casino.

In January 2026, screenshots reviewed by Guardian Australia revealed that Dinah, who has over 800,000 followers on Instagram, posted several videos promoting the crypto gambling site, Rainbet. Despite these being flagged as violating local laws, Meta responded that the content did not breach its policies. Notably, Meta’s reporting tools did not have a specific category for reporting illegal gambling promotions, which limited users’ ability to take action against these posts.

Dinah’s posts showcased her promoting Rainbet with captions like, “WHY PAY RENT WHEN U CAN JUST DOUBLE IT???? (ty rainbet! link in bio – helps me out a lot)” while displaying the Rainbet app on her phone. Despite being flagged multiple times by users for promoting illegal gambling services, Meta largely declined to act. In most cases, Meta stated that the posts didn’t go against its community standards. While some posts were restricted for teen audiences, they remained visible to the general public.

This situation follows ACMA’s clear warning to influencers in 2025, urging them to stop promoting illegal gambling services or face substantial penalties. Under Australian law, individuals involved in promoting illegal gambling can be fined up to AU$59,400 (US$41,545). Those facilitating access to such services, including influencers like Dinah, face penalties of up to AU$2.4 million (US$1.7 million). Despite these laws, Meta’s failure to remove the posts suggests the platform is not taking adequate action to address illegal gambling promotions, even when warned by authorities.

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The ACMA has been actively working to curb illegal gambling promotions by blocking access to gambling sites like Rainbet. Since 2019, it has successfully blocked over 1,400 illegal gambling and affiliate websites. However, ACMA also acknowledged that some users continue to circumvent these restrictions through virtual private networks (VPNs), allowing them to access sites like Rainbet.

A spokesperson for ACMA reiterated the importance of influencers adhering to Australian laws and stated that promoting illegal gambling services is a serious offense. “Stop promoting illegal gambling services to Australians. If you don’t, you risk facing significant penalties,” they warned.

Despite these efforts, the promotion of Rainbet on social media platforms remains a significant concern, especially as it continues to target Australian audiences. ACMA confirmed that Rainbet had implemented measures to block Australian users from accessing its services, but it’s clear that enforcement remains a challenge.

Despite these concerns and repeated reports of illegal gambling promotions, Meta has not responded to requests for comment and has not removed the posts or restricted the influencer’s account. This ongoing issue raises questions about the platform’s responsibility in policing content and adhering to local laws, especially when it involves promoting illegal activities like gambling.

Source:

, theguardian.com, February 4, 2026.