Gambling Addiction and Illicit Offers | Auckland News

Former NRL star Luke Bateman has stunned a Senate inquiry by revealing how gambling companies targeted him with illicit drug offers while he was drowning in debt — all part of a relentless push to keep high-spending punters hooked. As a top customer, he was showered with exclusive perks and bonus bets, but behind the scenes, account managers from major operators invited him to lavish events where he accepted drugs alongside senior executives. Now an author and influencer, Bateman warns these inducements are engineered to trap addicts, not help them. With crossbenchers and MPs rallying behind tighter gambling ads rules — including opt-out systems for online ads — the government pushes forward despite industry backlash over lost funding and the rise of offshore sites. His harrowing testimony underscores the suffocating grip of gambling’s predatory tactics. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/51b39f52ab47fcc3