Bateman, a recovering gambling addict, says betting firms provided him with free travel, booze, and drugs at the height of his addiction. Betting Executives ParticipatedThe hearing comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government continues to weigh a controversial gambling package that would restrict betting advertisements. Pressed for clarification on whether he was solely courted by his betting host, Bateman revealed that company executives were in on the scheme. Calling them the “strongest-ever” reforms to tackle gambling harms, a spokesperson for the Labor Party said the Albanese government is focused on strengthening BetStop, the national gambling self-exclusion register. Aussie governments have much at stake, as state and territory governments bank more than $10 billion annually from direct gambling taxes.