Ex-NRL star earned $400K a year, gambled it all away

Luke Bateman, a former professional NRL player, revealed the devastating impact of his gambling addiction, which saw him lose his entire $400,000 annual salary and leave him unable to afford basic necessities.

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My partner would come home from work and be like, 'Where's this?' I would've taken it to Cash Converters and sold it for cash so I could go and gamble.

Bateman described gambling as an ingrained part of the elite sporting environment, akin to "breathing." He recounted how his addiction escalated, consuming his life and leading him to sell personal belongings to fund his habit. At his lowest point in 2019, despite his high earnings, he was penniless and struggling to buy groceries.

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I was so broke … I couldn't pay for anything. I couldn't buy groceries.

Now a fantasy writer, Bateman has spoken out against the federal government's proposed changes to limit gambling advertising. He argues these measures are insufficient and would not have made a difference during his own struggles. The legislation, currently under Senate scrutiny, aims to cap hourly gambling ads and ban them during live matches.

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My gambling slowly progressed [until] it consumed my life. Every single thing I did revolved around that gambling app on my phone.

Bateman believes the proposed laws fall short of community concerns, advocating instead for a complete phase-out of all gambling advertising and betting incentives. He points to Australia's status as having the highest per capita gambling losses globally, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The former player also hinted at a potential future in politics, suggesting a run for parliament is a possibility.

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I had $70,000 or $80,000 in my bank account, and in the space of a month, I had nothing.