Former NRL player Luke Bateman alleged before a federal Senate inquiry that betting companies offered cocaine, free alcohol, and race day trips to keep him gambling. Bateman delivered the testimony on the opening day of a two-day parliamentary review examining proposed online wagering restrictions in Australia.
Senate Inquiry Hears Drug and Inducement Allegations Against Wagering Operators
Bateman told the Senate committee that wagering VIP managers routinely offered illegal drugs alongside hospitality packages to sustain his betting habits. According to Bateman’s testimony, VIP managers would ask what drugs he wanted before organizing interstate flights, trackside marquees, and continuous alcohol supplies. The inquiry is reviewing two federal bills designed to tighten online wagering rules, though critics argue the legislation falls short by failing to implement a total ban on wagering advertisements and inducements.
Gambling reform advocate Tim Costello also testified before the parliamentary committee. Costello stated that major operators including TAB and SportsBet provided accommodation, escorts, and drugs to a high roller who is currently detained at Silverwater Prison in Sydney, facing charges, turning over more than $20 million a month. According to Costello’s evidence, the bettor was flown to grand finals and supplied with whatever substances he requested. Betting companies have denied any wrongdoing in response to the allegations.
Did you know? Australian research indicates that direct marketing messages trigger immediate, impulsive betting responses that escalate gambling-related harms. A 2025 European study found that wagering inducements increased betting expenditure by over 10% and disproportionately affected individuals experiencing problem gambling.
Murphy Inquiry Recommendations Left Out of Federal Legislation
The current Senate review follows the 2023 Murphy inquiry report into online wagering, which recommended a complete prohibition on gambling inducements and advertising. The Murphy inquiry defined inducements as direct messaging, deposit matches, multi-bets, bonus bets, rewards programs, and early cash-out offers. While amendments to the National Consumer Protection Framework banned inducements for opening new accounts, witnesses testified that operators easily bypass these rules.
Despite clear research linking promotional messages to increased gambling expenditure, Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the government’s approach. Wells pointed to the national self-exclusion register, Betstop, as the primary tool for individuals seeking to avoid wagering harms. However, data presented to regulators shows wagering affiliates repeatedly breach Betstop. Entain alone breached the self-exclusion register approximately 500 times without facing penalties, according to compliance records.
The Scale of Risky Gambling Across Australia
The Australian National University Centre for Gambling Research estimated that nearly 20% of Australian adults gambled at risky levels in 2025. An additional 6% of the population suffered harms driven by someone else’s gambling. Australian studies show that exposure to direct wagering messages directly increases betting frequency and financial loss, yet the federal government has not explained why it declined to adopt recommendation 16 of the Murphy report, which called for an immediate, total ban on all online gambling inducements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific inducements did Luke Bateman allege he received?
Luke Bateman told the Senate inquiry that wagering companies offered him cocaine, interstate flights, race day hospitality, and bonus bets to keep him gambling.
Did betting companies respond to the allegations?
Yes. The betting companies involved have denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations presented at the Senate inquiry.
What does the national self-exclusion register, Betstop, do?
Betstop allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from all licensed online wagering providers in Australia, though evidence shows wagering operators have breached the register.
What did the Murphy inquiry recommend regarding gambling ads?
The 2023 Murphy inquiry report recommended that the Australian government prohibit all online gambling inducements and inducement advertising without delay.
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