Luke Bateman took money from fiancée’s bank while she slept to feed gambling habit

Former Canberra Raiders player Luke Bateman transferred thousands of dollars from his ex-girlfriend’s bank account while she slept to feed his betting addition but denies claims he used her engagement ring as a deposit to fund his gambling.

The details have emerged as Bateman, a former NRL player, reality show contestant and social media personality, appeared as the star witness at the Senate gambling inquiry this week, revealing he had been flown interstate by wagering companies and offered drugs to encourage him to keep punting.

The 31-year-old, who is advocating for tougher restrictions on gambling advertising in Labor’s reforms, has estimated he lost $1 million through betting and has admitted stealing from his family members and former partner.

It has emerged since Bateman gave evidence in Canberra on Monday that he also worked in 2020 for a bookmaker following his retirement from the NRL, which he did not disclose to the inquiry.

This masthead has also discovered new information about the recovering addict’s debt to his former fiancée, retired jockey and Sky Racing presenter Kayla Nisbet, from whom he separated in 2019.

Sources close to Nisbet, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Bateman had burnt through about $80,000 of her money to feed his betting problem and had used her phone to secretly transfer cash from her bank account, including when she was asleep.

Nisbet this year produced statements showing what had been sent from her account to Bateman’s to facilitate his gambling, but he took issue with the figure, believing not all of it was related to his betting and only a small portion was stolen.

Bateman, who had been filming the television programme I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!, agreed to repay her just over $40,000, which she reluctantly settled for.

Nisbet declined to comment on Thursday, but sources close to her said Bateman had confessed to using her engagement ring as a deposit to raise funds to gamble with, having told her he was getting it cleaned.

Bateman denied that when contacted by this masthead – “I never used it as collateral to raise money for gambling” – but admitted selling the ring after their relationship ended.

He said he and Nisbet had agreed after they broke up that he would repay her about $8000, and he did so in 2020.

He said he had made contact with Nisbet again this year after being made aware of claims made online by her sisters about how much he owed her, but after subsequently going through statements she sent him had come up with a lower number.

According to Bateman, he suggested sitting down together with both of their accountants to “go through it in good faith … and agree on a figure” but he said she did not want to meet.

He said he had had the password to Nisbet’s phone and online banking when they were together and estimated he stole about $10,000 from her.

But he argued that she gave him most of the money.

“She was in a relationship with a gambling addict, she knew she was in a relationship with a gambling addict, and she gave that person money,” Bateman said. “A part of it was stolen, but I would say the majority of that was given on [her] own free will.”

Sources close to Nisbet said she had given up on getting her money back from Bateman after they called off their marriage, believing he wouldn’t be able to afford it, but after he had made contact with her this year had tallied up the transfers.

Bateman has since become a popular creator on BookTok, an online platform on which books are reviewed, and hosts a books podcast for Nine, the publisher of this masthead.

He said he had “absolutely nothing to hide” and hadn’t spoken publicly about Nisbet before out of respect for her.

The emotional toll on those around him at the time including her was “horrendous,” he conceded.

“I was just a cancer who was destroying my life and theirs. They were trying to love me and help me. I was just a black hole who was hurting everyone around me,” he said.

“That’s why I’m so passionate about making these changes.”

Bateman told the Senate hearing this week betting company inducements had destroyed his life because “that’s what kept you coming back”.

He detailed one party about eight years ago on the Gold Coast, at which he said he was taking drugs in a backroom with the chief executive, founders and VIP managers of a betting agency.

He did not name the company and its identity has been the subject of feverous industry speculation.