Luke Bateman: Former NRL player reveals he was plied with drugs, alcohol by gambling company during addiction

Former NRL star Luke Bateman has alleged he was offered drugs and alcohol by gambling company employees while he was battling a problem gambling addiction.

Bateman, 31, appeared at a Senate inquiry and described losses of “tens of thousands of dollars” a month at the depths of his addiction while gambling companies would use tactics to create a “sense of trust” to keep him wagering.

The two-day inquiry is examining the Federal Government’s legislation to limit gambling advertising, the Interactive Gambling Amaen, where medical and welfare experts are campaigning for the legislation to be strengthened as recommended by the 2023 Murphy Report.

The former Canberra Raiders player revealed he had been flown to races across Australia by the gambling company, describing incidents where he would be plied with drugs and alcohol at racing events.

“Before getting there, the VIP manager would offer: hey mate, what drugs do you want? Do you want a couple of bags for this weekend? We’ll organise that for you. We’ll have that ready for you when you get here,” Bateman described.

“That obviously … came with the expectation that then I would continue to gamble with their company specifically, and nobody else.

“Creating a sense of trust, creating a sense of friendship, absolutely came with the underlying desire to make sure that you lost all of your money with them.”

Another incident involved drug consumption in the presence of high-ranking employees of sports betting companies during an event on the Gold Coast when Bateman was 23 years old.

“The entire C-suite of the company was there. All the management team administration, and they were all in a backroom doing drugs together. And I was out in this room doing drugs with all of them. This is like the CEO, the founders, the VIP managers,” Bateman said.

“I would put my hand up and say I was a willing participant of that. These are men in positions of power with influence who should be looking out for your welfare.”

Alliance for Gambling Reform chief Tim Costello said he had liaised with a man who is currently in a Sydney jail after he stole more than $12 million to fund his gambling addiction.

The man was gifted $50,000 worth of bonus bets, flights and tickets to major sporting events, and free accommodation at Star Casino, according to Mr Costello.

“He was TAB’s biggest customer. . . he was also Sportsbet’s biggest customer,” Mr Costello said.

“They were offering him escorts, drugs, whatever he wanted.”

Sportsbet has denied evidence of the allegations.

The former NRL player — who is now a book influencer on social media — described gambling companies’ inducements for punters to keep betting as “relentless”, including accommodation, travel, alcohol, and bonus bets.

“I was a racing punter. Obviously, Saturdays are your main race days, so every Friday I would receive a message of, ‘Hello, this is your exclusive offer for tomorrow,’” Bateman told the ABC.

“That would happen every single week.”

The Federal Government’s legislation does not include bans on inducements, rather focusing on removing gambling ads on television broadcasts, financial counselling, and banning ‘pocket pokies’, which members have described as “stronger than the current settings”.

“I think we’ve got the balance right. . .It’s a comprehensive approach,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts co-founder Anna Bardsley has slammed the legislation as “piss-weak” in light of the Murphy Report’s recommendations, which were handed down more than three years ago.

“It is patently clear that we are instead dealing with the protection of an industry that’s entire business model is predicated on harm, an industry that exploits people to the point of extinction,” Ms Bardsley said.