Luke Bateman tells inquiry gambling companies gave him drugs and alcohol – video
News Source
•Mon, 03 Aug 2026 03:17:23 GMT
📰 What Happened
Former rugby league player Luke Bateman told a parliamentary inquiry that gambling companies supplied him with drugs. He said at the height of his addiction, VIP managers would ask him what drugs he wanted for the weekend. He was flown interstate to race days and put in marquees with alcohol. Bateman also claimed senior managers and founders of a betting company took drugs with punters at a Gold Coast event. The inquiry is looking into the link between gambling and drug use.
🔍 The Backstory
Luke Bateman played rugby league before becoming a BookTok influencer. His story has become part of a wider investigation into Australia's gambling industry. Critics say betting companies use VIP programs to target vulnerable people. They offer free trips, alcohol, and even drugs to keep high-spending gamblers loyal. Australia has some of the highest gambling losses per person in the world. The inquiry is examining whether gambling companies should face tougher rules. Bateman's evidence gives a rare look inside the dark side of gambling culture.
🎯 Why It Matters
This shows how gambling companies may be using drugs and alcohol to trap people into addiction. It raises serious questions about whether the industry needs tighter regulation.
Former rugby league player Luke Bateman told a parliamentary inquiry that gambling companies supplied him with drugs. He said at the height of his addiction, VIP managers would ask him what drugs he wanted for the weekend. He was flown interstate to race days and put in marquees with alcohol. Bateman also claimed senior managers and founders of a betting company took drugs with punters at a Gold Coast event. The inquiry is looking into the link between gambling and drug use.
Luke Bateman played rugby league before becoming a BookTok influencer. His story has become part of a wider investigation into Australia's gambling industry. Critics say betting companies use VIP programs to target vulnerable people. They offer free trips, alcohol, and even drugs to keep high-spending gamblers loyal. Australia has some of the highest gambling losses per person in the world. The inquiry is examining whether gambling companies should face tougher rules. Bateman's evidence gives a rare look inside the dark side of gambling culture.
This shows how gambling companies may be using drugs and alcohol to trap people into addiction. It raises serious questions about whether the industry needs tighter regulation.