Former NRL Star Luke Bateman Reveals Crippling Gambling Addiction
Former Canberra Raiders player Luke Bateman, 30, publicly shared his struggle with a severe gambling addiction that cost him his NRL salary and led to financial hardship, speaking emotionally about the impact on his family.
Bateman, who played 71 games for the Raiders between 2015 and 2019 and represented Queensland Under-20s, revealed yesterday on a television interview that despite earning over $400,000 annually during his football career, he routinely gambled away his income. He described a period where he was unable to afford basic necessities like groceries and relied on his mother to pay his mortgage. “I was on a very high income in the NRL and I had no money in the bank,” Bateman stated. “My mum was paying my mortgage for me. I couldn’t buy groceries. I would go a day without eating because I simply could not buy food.”
The former athlete estimates he lost over $500,000 to gambling over a two-to-three-year period, acknowledging full responsibility for his actions. He explained the addiction reached a crisis point, stating, “It actually got to point where I said, ‘this goes one or two ways, it either ends up with me in a coffin or I get help.’” Bateman also highlighted the prevalence of gambling within the NRL, suggesting that approximately half of his former teammates struggled with similar issues, a concern echoed by organizations like Gambling Help Online. This revelation comes as Australia grapples with rising rates of problem gambling and its impact on individuals and families.
Now living in rural Queensland and working as a logging contractor, Bateman has found a new audience through his TikTok book reviews, recently securing a two-book deal with Atria Books Australia. He is also launching a new book review podcast. Bateman stressed the importance of seeking help and taking ownership of addiction, and is now focused on a positive future.
Bateman is continuing to share his story in hopes of raising awareness about gambling addiction and encouraging others to seek support.
