Australian Senate probes betting firms offering drugs to ex‑NRL star Luke Bateman
A Senate inquiry in Australia is examining allegations that major betting companies provided drugs, alcohol and other inducements to high‑spending gamblers. Former NRL player Luke Bateman testified that Sportsbet, Tabcorp and the Star Casino flew him to race meetings, offered him his choice of drugs and gave him free accommodation and bonus bets to keep him wagering.
Advocates such as Tim Costello of the Alliance for Gambling Reform cited a separate case of a man who stole more than $12 million to fund his gambling addiction, saying the same companies facilitated his behaviour. The inquiry is reviewing the Albanese government’s proposed gambling reforms, which include the BetStop self‑exclusion register but stop short of banning inducements, despite recommendations from the 2023 Murphy Report. Betting firms have denied the allegations, while senators, including David Pocock and Russell Northe, pressed witnesses on the impact of such practices on vulnerable customers.
Entities
Albanese government · Australian Senate · Luke Bateman · Murphy report · SportsBet · Star Casino · Tabcorp · Tim Costello · betting companies
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Betting companies flew Bateman to interstate race days and provided him with alcohol, food and his choice of drugs. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] He received direct offers of $1,000 bonus bets for depositing $1,000, sent via text messages and emails. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Betting companies conducted no welfare checks despite Bateman’s extreme gambling harm. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] He gambled hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single day on hundreds of races. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Albanese government’s gambling package does not ban betting inducements, despite the Murphy report recommending a full prohibition. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Bateman stole money from his mother, partner and siblings to redeem the bonus bets. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Luke Bateman, a former rugby league player and BookTok influencer, testified to an Australian Senate inquiry about gambling inducements. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] A VIP manager offered Bateman drugs before events, asking “what drugs do you want?”. www.theage.com.au · www.watoday.com.au · www.smh.com.au