Minister wants ATM curbs to help gamblers

By Kirsty Simpson, Phillip Hudson October 24, 2004 The Federal Government has asked banks to test restrictions on automatic teller machines at gaming venues in a bid to help problem gamblers. Federal Family and Community Services Minister Kay Patterson told The Sunday Age she had met the Australian Bankers Association and suggested options such as blocking withdrawals for problem gamblers from cash machines in gaming venues and warnings on ATM screens. She also called for the association to consider more research "that might have a much better effect than regulating ATMs". David Bell, the association's chief executive, said before new options were tried, more work was needed to prove a link between problem gambling and ATMs. "If that's to happen, there needs to be research first. It would be great if the ministerial gaming council could look at new research on the factors driving problem gambling," he said. News of the talks comes as Westpac has been withdrawing ATMs from pokies venues. While independent ATM operators have filled the breach, Westpac's move means the four major banks are out of most pokies venues. A Westpac spokeswoman confirmed last week that the bank had reduced its machines from about 150 two years ago to about 50, while the ANZ has 29 machines nationally and Commonwealth Bank just six in Victorian venues. National Australia Bank lost a contract to supply 120 pubs in 2003. The Uniting Church and anti-gambling groups have argued that easy access to ATMs exacerbates problem gambling. The church's social justice director, Dr Mark Zirnsak, said the next step should be for the Federal Government to ban ATMs in pokies venues, leaving punters to rely on Eftpos machines. "We are concerned about the hypocrisy (of the Federal Government) in rightfully criticising the states over problem gambling but failing to take action themselves," he said. If you change something, you've got to know that it actually changes problem gambling behaviour." Kay Patterson, federal ministerSenator Patterson rejected this, saying she was not convinced a ban was the best solution, but added that states could already do this independently. Victorian Gaming Minister John Pandazopoulos, who supports a ban, said federal banking laws overrode state restrictions, meaning only federal action would work, he said. Victoria already has $200 limits on withdrawals and banned ATMs from gaming rooms, but not from the venues. A recent survey of problem gamblers by Victoria's now disbanded independent gambling research panel found more than half wanted ATMs removed from venues. A Productivity Commission report also found fewer than one in four casual gamblers uses cash machines but 58.7 per cent of severe problem gamblers do. The ANZ also believes a ban may be less effective than other restrictions. "We acknowledge problem gaming as a serious issue but do believe ATMs have a legitimate role in these multi-purpose venues," the ANZ said in a letter to the Uniting Church. "We support State Government legislation which requires selected gaming licence owner-operators to limit the size of withdrawals and block access to cash advances on credit cards . . . ANZ is currently examining ways in which this withdrawal limit can be adjusted based on individual customer requests. Lowering the limit in this way may be a more effective approach than removing ATMs," the bank said. Senator Patterson said technology allowed the banks to put restrictions on ATMs at gaming venues - such as the voluntary rejection of cards or warnings on the screen when used - without affecting use at other locations. She said tackling problem gambling was a priority for the Howard Government's fourth term but it was crucial to have "evidence-based solutions". "If you change something, you've got to know that it actually changes problem gambling behaviour," she said. Cashcard, one of the largest independent ATM operators, did not speak to The Sunday Age.