Luke Bateman, a former NRL player, has made startling allegations regarding his interactions with gambling companies during his battle with addiction.
At 32, Bateman played a total of 71 NRL matches with the Canberra Raiders from 2015 to 2019.
During his struggles, he reportedly lost five figures each month, leaving him financially strained despite his professional status.
Since retiring from the NRL due to injury, Bateman has been an outspoken critic of gambling practices, sharing his experiences at a recent senate inquiry.
He recounted, "There were times where I would be flown interstate and taken to race days, put in marquees with alcohol and food provided all day, things like that."
Bateman continued, "Before getting there, the VIP manager would offer: hey mate, what drugs do you want? Do you want a couple of bags for this weekend? We'll organise that for you. We'll have that ready for you when you get here."
In a shocking revelation, he stated, "And the entire C-suite of the company was there. All the management team administration, and they were all in a backroom doing drugs together. And I was out in this room doing drugs with all of them. This is like the CEO, the founders, the VIP managers."
Reflecting on his age at the time, he noted, "I would have been, you know, 23 years old. So while I was absolutely … I would put my hand up and say I was a willing participant of that. These are men in positions of power with influence who should be looking out for your welfare."
The timing of Bateman's statements coincides with ongoing discussions in federal parliament regarding proposed laws to restrict advertising related to sports gambling.