Former NRL star reveals gambling companies offered him drugs.

Bateman, who has had a troubling history with gambling, shared his experience as a high-stakes player at some of Australia's prominent sports betting companies. The former NRL player, despite his $400,000 salary, found himself nearly broke due to $250,000 in gambling losses during his heavy gambling phase. He recalled attending an event hosted by a licensed gambling company where he saw senior figures using illicit drugs with clients. Bateman urged the Albanese government to take immediate action and implement safeguards to protect vulnerable consumers, starting with regulating gambling advertising. He criticized the complete lack of responsibility and care for customers as human beings, saying, There’s zero concern for your well-being or mental state. Absolutely none. He described how these encounters would unfold, mentioning that before such events, like race days, his VIP manager would ask, Hey mate, what drugs do you want? Do you need a couple of bags for this weekend? He was also targeted with personalized betting promotions and described witnessing an entire gambling company’s staff using drugs in the back room at a Gold Coast event. This included the CEO, founders, and VIP managers. I was just 23 years old at the time, he noted. Although Bateman confessed to participating in some of these activities, he argued that those in power should look out for your best interests rather than encourage and normalize such behaviors.

Tim Costello, a noted anti-gambling advocate, supports Bateman's accounts by sharing that Australia's top sports betting companies would go to great lengths, even offering escorts, drugs, and free accommodations, to lure another problem gambler. He recounted, This person received free accommodation at Star Casino. Each week, they had to leave so technically it wouldn't count as living there, only to return the next morning, as reported by The Guardian during an inquiry. Meanwhile, the Albanese government is gearing up to limit the number of gambling ads per broadcast hour and to ban ads during live sports events.