Inquiry hears gambling firms allegedly plied VIP punters with drugs and sex workers

Anti-gambling campaigners Tim Costello and Luke Bateman told a parliamentary inquiry that Sportsbet and Tabcorp supplied VIP problem gamblers with cocaine, alcohol and sex workers to keep them betting. Bateman described a private Gold Coast event for high-value punters. Both companies denied the claims; Sportsbet says it has no evidence its VIP managers offered drugs or escorts.