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Luke Bateman tells inquiry gambling companies supplied him with cocaine and alcohol

The Guardian World Monday 03 August 2026, 00:39 UTC By Tom McIlroy Political editor 1 min read
Key Points

Former rugby league player turned TikTok influencer tells parliamentary inquiry his spiralling addiction to gambling cost him about $1mFormer rugby league star Luke Bateman has alleged gambling company promoters supplied him with cocaine and alcohol, telling a parliamentary inquiry the betting industry exercised no duty of care. Bateman, who is now a TikTok star and influential in the “BookTok” community, told the inquiry on Monday morning he attended a private Gold Coast event hosted by a...

Former rugby league player turned TikTok influencer tells parliamentary inquiry his spiralling addiction to gambling cost him about $1m

Former rugby league star Luke Bateman has alleged gambling company promoters supplied him with cocaine and alcohol, telling a parliamentary inquiry the betting industry exercised no duty of care.

Bateman, who is now a TikTok star and influential in the “BookTok” community, told the inquiry on Monday morning he attended a private Gold Coast event hosted by a gambling company at which senior figures took illicit drugs with clients.

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Luke Bateman (PERSON) TikTok (ORG) Bateman (PERSON) the “BookTok (ORG) Gold Coast (LOCATION)
Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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