Tabcorp fined over US$2.6M for breaching spam laws in VIP customer campaign
Summary
Tabcorp Holdings Limited has received a hefty AU$4 million (approx. US$2.61 million) fine after being found in breach of spam regulations by Australia’s communications regulator, ACMA. The violation stemmed from unauthorized marketing messages sent to VIP customers without proper compliance measures in place.
The ACMA’s investigation revealed that TAB sent over 5,700 SMS and WhatsApp messages to its VIP program members from February to May 2024. Notably, many messages did not feature an unsubscribe option or proper sender details, while some were sent without the necessary customer consent.
Key Points
- Tabcorp fined AU$4 million for sending non-compliant marketing messages to VIP customers.
- The violations included over 2,500 messages with no unsubscribe option.
- 3,148 messages lacked adequate sender information, raising serious compliance issues.
- 11 messages were sent without prior consent from customers.
- This event marks the first ACMA enforcement action against a VIP gambling programme.
- Tabcorp has committed to a three-year rehabilitation plan to align with spam regulations.
Why should I read this?
If you’re part of the gambling industry or just curious about compliance regulations in marketing, this is a must-read! Tabcorp’s hefty fine serves as a wake-up call for businesses to adhere strictly to spam laws, especially when it comes to VIP customer interaction. Learn from their mistakes to avoid similar pitfalls in your own marketing strategy.
