Meta Under Fire: Australian Influencers Promoting Illegal Crypto Casinos on Instagram

Meta is facing allegations of failing to moderate content that violates Australian gambling laws. The case centers on popular streamer and influencer Dinah (820,000 followers), who openly advertised the offshore crypto casino Rainbet.

Incident Details:

• Content: In January 2026, Dinah’s account featured videos encouraging followers to “double their rent money” via Rainbet. The posts included direct links to the platform.
• Meta’s Response: Despite nearly a dozen user reports and screenshots of the violations, Meta initially claimed the content “did not violate community standards” regarding fraud. The platform merely restricted the videos for teenagers while keeping them accessible to the adult audience.
• Regulator’s Position: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) emphasized that Rainbet is not licensed in the country. Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, promoting such services is prohibited.
• Risks for Influencers: ACMA issued an official warning stating that influencers who facilitate access to illegal gambling sites (e.g., via “link in bio”) can face fines of up to $2.4 million. Following the intervention of the regulator and the media, the posts were removed, and Rainbet began implementing geoblocking for Australian IP addresses.

The situation once again highlights the “grey zones” in Meta’s moderation, where the lack of a specific reporting category for “illegal gambling” allows prohibited content to amass millions of views.

Sources: Guardian Australia, Official ACMA Website.