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Read Full BioAustralian influencer Dinah, with over 820,000 Instagram followers, has come under fire for promoting the crypto casino Rainbet. Critics argue that her promotions violate Meta’s policies on gambling advertising, but the company has allowed them to continue.
Under Australian law, the promotion of illegal gambling services, such as online casinos, to residents is prohibited.
Last year, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) sent out a warning, stating, “Social media influencers are on notice: stop promoting illegal gambling services to Australians. If you don’t, you risk facing significant penalties.”
The regulator added that influencers who facilitate illegal gambling by adding promotional links to content risk fines of up to AU$2.4 million ($1.68 million).
Drake has come under legal scrutiny for promoting the crypto casino Stake. The rapper is facing a lawsuit in Virginia over claims he used his partnership with the gambling platform to inflate Spotify streams.
Videos Show Influencer Gambling on Phone
Despite the law against promoting online gambling in Australia, Dinah has continued to promote Rainbet on her Instagram and Facebook channels. One video on Facebook with the caption, “50/50 Michelin star or Maccas speedrun (thx rainbet link in bio)” shows her gambling on Rainbet to try to win money for a date. In the next scene, she is eating at McDonald’s.
In another Instagram reel, with the caption, “WHY PAY RENT WHEN U CAN JUST DOUBLE IT????“, she is seen gambling on her phone with more success.
The posts urge followers to check her bio for a link, but the Rainbet links have been removed from her profile. The Guardian reported this occurred after a series of complaints from Australians.
Meta Approves Content
Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, declined to take action against Dinah. A spokesperson commented, “Our team reviewed the content. They found that it does not go against our community standards on fraud or scam.”
The company has also come under scrutiny over claims it generates substantial revenue through promoting illegal gambling, fraud, and scams.
Last month, the UK Gambling Commission accused the company of allowing its ad system to target British consumers with illegal gambling promotions.
A report last year suggested that as much as 10% of the company’s revenue ($16 billion) comes from promoting banned services, scams, and fraud schemes.
Meta said it believes this figure, which came from internal documents, is an overestimation, and it is working to eradicate the promotion of illicit businesses. However, it cited the difficulty in doing so due to the sophisticated nature of scam artists.
Debate Over Gambling Ads Ban Continues
In December, Australia banned social media for under-16s, and Meta also said it would restrict young people from seeing Dinah’s Rainbet promotions.
Critics of the social media ban have argued that it is a distraction from a ban on gambling advertising. Australian law already prohibits ads for illegal gambling and has restrictions on promoting legal gambling. For example, betting companies are banned from advertising during live sports during the day.
Anti-gambling factions argue these limits are insufficient and the government must implement a full ban on gambling ads at all times. The country continues to lead the world in gambling losses, with the average adult losing over $1,000 a year.
Opponents of a ban on gambling advertising would point to the continued presence of ads for unlicensed gambling companies on social media.
A full-on ban on advertising legal gambling in mainstream media would only serve to drive more users to black market platforms, argues Responsible Wagering Australia. Spokesperson Kai Cantwell stated, “International evidence shows that when you over-regulate legal markets, illegal operators will fill the void, targeting children and vulnerable people with predatory advertising.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has resisted introducing a blanket ban for this reason, stating, “What’s in our mind is the practicalities of whether people just go offshore, then there’s no revenue at all.
“They engage in gambling with no revenue coming back at all. And it doesn’t solve the problem.”
