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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Former NRL Player Alleges Gambling Firms Offered Drugs Amid Addiction

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A former NRL player alleges gambling company employees offered him illicit drugs during his severe gambling addiction.
  • Luke Bateman, who lost tens of thousands of dollars monthly, will testify at a Senate inquiry into gambling advertising restrictions.
  • The inquiry will hear from experts and charities advocating for stronger regulations, while the gambling industry opposes stricter measures.

Former professional rugby league player Luke Bateman has revealed that employees of gambling companies offered him illicit drugs to foster a closer relationship during his debilitating gambling addiction. Bateman, 31, who lost "tens of thousands of dollars a month" at the peak of his addiction, is set to testify at a Senate inquiry into proposed government legislation to restrict gambling advertisements in Canberra.

They enter into this knowing that the reason that they are creating a friendship with you is to encourage you to bet with them and to continue to lose lots and lots of money.

— Luke BatemanExplaining the motivation behind gambling companies' 'friendships' with high-spending clients.

The two-day inquiry will feature testimony from medical experts and welfare charities urging the government to strengthen its proposed legislation. Conversely, the gambling industry is expected to argue against the implementation of tougher measures. Bateman, who previously played for the Canberra Raiders and is now a social media influencer, has become an advocate for ending so-called gambling inducements.

The promotion of inducements was 'relentless.'

— Luke BatemanDescribing the constant pressure from gambling companies.

Bateman described the promotion of these inducements as "relentless." He explained that as a high-spending customer, he was assigned account managers who sought to build rapport by offering bonuses, exclusive event invitations with paid travel, accommodation, food, and alcohol. "They enter into this knowing that the reason that they are creating a friendship with you is to encourage you to bet with them and to continue to lose lots and lots of money," he stated.

Hey mate, you know, do you want any … drugs on the weekend?

— Luke BatemanRecounting an alleged offer of illicit drugs from a gambling account manager.

Furthermore, Bateman alleged that on multiple occasions, after accepting invitations to interstate events, his gambling account manager would offer to arrange access to illicit drugs. "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 recounted, adding that offers were made like, "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.'"

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.'

— Luke BatemanProviding a specific example of an alleged drug offer.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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