- Luke Bateman played in the NRL between 2015 and 2019
Ex-footy star turned TikTok sensation Luke Bateman has revealed a gambling addiction often left him broke during his NRL career despite the fact he was on a pay packet most Aussies can only dream of.
Bateman, 30, was on the books of the Canberra Raiders between 2015 and 2019, earning a reported $400,000 per season at his peak.
Astonishingly, Bateman estimates he lost half a million dollars on the punt in just two years.
‘I don’t really look back on it (footy career) very fondly,’ Bateman told Triple J’s Hack program.
‘I was struggling with addiction and depression and I don’t remember a lot of it because I was on autopilot every day.
‘I was earning good money but was still broke… my mum was paying my mortgage because I had no money and I couldn’t buy groceries.’
Ex-footy star turned TikTok sensation Luke Bateman has revealed a gambling addiction often left him broke during his footy career
Bateman, 30, was on the books of the Canberra Raiders (pictured) between 2015 and 2019, earning a reported $400,000 per season at his peak
Bateman – a former contestant on The Bachelor – estimates he lost half a million dollars on the punt over a couple of years
Former Bachelor contestant Bateman – who in recent years has become an author of risqué romance and fantasy novels which countless women love – added many of his teammates struggled with gambling and binge drinking.
Bateman’s problem was a bookie on his phone, meaning he could bet thousands of dollars at any time of the day.
He eventually drew a line in the sand and went to rehab.
Fast forward to 2025, Bateman is addiction-free.
A knee injury ended Bateman’s career – and before his NRL debut in 2014, he publicly had to confirm he wasn’t gay.
It followed an on-field slur from current Parramatta Eels halfback Mitchell Moses, who was playing for NSW against Queensland in an under-20s match.
‘I’m not gay,’ Bateman said.
‘I’ve had plenty of people from the gay community write to me or contact me on Twitter giving messages of support.
‘I said thanks guys… but I’m really not (gay).’
