Former National Rugby League (NRL) player Luke Bateman, a prominent critic of the gambling industry, has disclosed that he previously worked for a bookmaker. The admission comes after Bateman delivered explosive testimony to a Senate inquiry, alleging that gambling company employees offered illicit drugs and arranged them for him as a high-value punter.

Bateman, 31, worked for six months as a business development manager for the now-defunct Southern Cross Bet in 2020. He did not disclose this employment when he appeared before the Senate inquiry into gambling advertising reform. Independent senator David Pocock, a vocal supporter of Bateman's evidence, stated he was unaware of the former player's employment with the bookmaker.

"It seems like this disclosure now, after the Senate committee hearing, reinforces the weight of his testimony, speaking of his lived experience," Pocock commented. "I don't believe that Luke sought to hide or mislead our inquiry; I think he provided very honest, compelling testimony about the enormous harm gambling and addiction can cause, and I applaud him for speaking out."

Bateman confirmed his role after records showed he had worked for Southern Cross Bet following his retirement from rugby league. In his role, he was responsible for contacting new customers, welcoming them to the platform, and assisting with any issues. His duties also included offering deposit matches, commonly known as bonus bets, to customers. A social media post from August 2020 showed Bateman hosting a Southern Cross Bet customer function at Eagle Farm Racecourse.

When questioned about whether he should have declared the position, Bateman offered a nuanced response. "Yes and no," he stated. "I was more commenting around the [industry] culture. I didn't say that companies shouldn't be allowed to have VIP managers; I said that the predatory nature of inducements should be taken away. It's not about persecuting, naming or singling out companies and individuals or anything like that. What I want is just protection and care for vulnerable young men."

Bateman described Southern Cross Bet as having been "much more well-behaved" than other betting companies he had encountered, though he did not name them. He accepted the position while still struggling with a gambling addiction that began during his NRL career. "I had just come out of the NRL, and I was still deep in my gambling addiction," he said. "I had no direction whatsoever, and that was just like the first job that popped up."

These revelations follow Bateman's testimony to the inquiry, where he alleged that wagering industry account managers had offered to procure illicit drugs for him before interstate events. He claimed these offers were intended to strengthen his relationship with account managers and ensure he continued to gamble with their companies. "That obviously came with the expectation that then I would continue to gamble with their company specifically and nobody else," he said. "Creating a sense of trust, creating a sense of friendship, absolutely came with the underlying desire to make sure that you lost all of your money with them."

Bateman also alleged he attended a gathering at a Gold Coast rental property where senior figures from an unidentified gambling company were using drugs. He stated that the company's C-suite, management team, and administration were present and participating in drug use. Bateman estimated that his gambling cost him approximately $1 million and left him with debts of around $250,000 before he entered rehabilitation in 2020. He had previously earned as much as $400,000 a year as an NRL player but found himself unable to afford groceries due to his addiction. Bateman played 71 first-grade matches for Canberra between 2015 and 2019 before a knee injury ended his career.

The Senate inquiry into gambling advertising reform concluded its public hearings on Tuesday. The Greens are advocating for a complete ban on gambling advertising across all media platforms.