Former NRL player Luke Bateman has alleged senior gambling company figures took illicit drugs with him while cultivating him as a high-volume punter.
Bateman, 31, made the explosive claims while giving evidence at a Senate inquiry into the Albanese government’s proposed restrictions on gambling advertising on Monday.
The former Canberra Raiders forward said gambling company employees also unofficially offered to arrange drugs for him when he travelled interstate to attend exclusive events.
Bateman claimed he once attended an event at a Gold Coast rental property where senior company figures were present.
‘The entire sort of C-suite of the company was there, all management team, administration, and they were all sort of in the back room doing drugs together, and I was in this room doing drugs with all of them,’ he told the inquiry.
‘This is like the CEO, the founders, the VIP managers, and you know at that stage I would have been a 23-year-old.’
Former Canberra Raiders forward Luke Bateman addressed a Senate inquiry examining proposed restrictions on gambling advertising in Australia
Bateman (pictured on Monday) alleged gambling company employees offered to arrange illicit drugs while cultivating him as a high-volume punter customer
ACT independent Senator David Pocock asked Bateman if the alleged conduct was known beyond account managers working on commission.
‘Not only did they know, they were participating in it,’ Bateman replied.
He told the inquiry that account managers assigned to high-spending punters sought to form personal relationships through bonus bets and invitations to events where travel, accommodation, food and alcohol were covered.
He alleged there were ‘multiple times’ when account managers offered to arrange illicit drugs before those events.
‘The week of the event, they’d sort of send you a message and be like, ‘Hey mate, you know, do you want any … drugs on the weekend?’ he said.
‘If you’re going to Melbourne, they’re like, ”Hey mate … if you need a couple of bags, let us know and we’ll have it organised for you and we’ll get it to you.”’
Bateman stressed the alleged offers were not made in any official capacity on behalf of the wagering companies.
He believed they were used to strengthen his relationship with account managers and encourage him to continue gambling through their company.
The former NRL player said senior company figures joined him in taking drugs at a Gold Coast event
‘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,’ he said.
The former lock made 71 NRL appearances for Canberra between 2015 and 2019 before his playing career ended following a significant knee injury.
Bateman has previously revealed his gambling addiction left him $250,000 in debt and lost as much as $80,000 in one month, despite earning $400,000 a season.
‘I had $70,000 or $80,000 in my bank account, and in the space of a month, I had nothing,’ he said.
‘I was in so much debt … I was earning $400,000 a year, and I couldn’t afford a lollipop.’
Bateman said he sold belongings and reached a point where he could no longer afford groceries.
‘I was so broke … I couldn’t pay for anything. I couldn’t buy groceries,’ he said.
‘My gambling slowly progressed [until] it consumed my life. Every single thing I did revolved around that gambling app on my phone.’
Bateman earned $400,000 annually as an NRL player but said he could no longer afford groceries or basics
He eventually sought help after a three-day bender in 2020 and entered rehabilitation.
His parents took on $130,000 of his debts, which he has since repaid while working in his father Don’s logging business.
Bateman told the inquiry gambling inducements made escaping his addiction more difficult because direct offers could prompt him to start betting again.
‘When someone reaches out to you and offers you … this really attractive deal to do it again, it’s so motivating to re-enter gambling,’ he said.
‘It’s not [about] trying to stop anyone from having a bet.
‘What we’re trying to stop is the relentless targeting of vulnerable individuals.’
The government’s proposed reforms include restrictions on television gambling advertisements between 6am and 8.30pm, limits on radio advertising during school drop-off and pick-up times, and an opt-out system for online ads.
A federal government spokesperson described the package as Labor’s ‘strongest-ever’ response to gambling harm.
Responsible Wagering Australia has argued the proposed restrictions would reduce funding for broadcasters, sporting organisations and racing while potentially driving gamblers towards illegal offshore operators.
Bateman has since built a large social media following through fantasy book reviews and signed a two-book publishing deal.
He also appeared on The Bachelors Australia and finished in the top three on Channel 10’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here earlier this year.
