ATMs encourage gambling
(22 October 2009 – Australia) The Australian Bankers Association has weighed into a report which has found that access to ATMs and EFTPOS facilities appears to increase spending by problem gamblers.
If a draft report of the Productivity Commission on gambling was accepted as policy, it would limit withdrawals at ATMs nationwide to A$200 per day in gambling venues.
Only one percent of the ATMs located in such venues are bank branded and there would be little negative effect on the companies that own the remaining 99 percent.
The ABA would only support measures to restrict access to cash where these measures did not discriminate against consumers, especially those in rural and regional Australia, and did not impose withdrawal limits in a manner that resulted in complex and costly changes being made to the payments system.
David Bell, chief executive, ABA said that in the ABA’s submission to the Commission it highlighted a number of ways in which gaming venues can work with their customers, who have problems with gambling, to put in place certain strategies.
For example, smart cards and other stored value systems, as well as self exclusion and other harm minimisation measures.
The banking sector believes solutions should be targeted at problem gamblers - not the entire community - who may need access to cash to facilitate spending on other goods and services, like a meal at the pub, Mr Bell added.
Only one percent of the ATMs located in such venues are bank branded and there would be little negative effect on the companies that own the remaining 99 percent.
The ABA would only support measures to restrict access to cash where these measures did not discriminate against consumers, especially those in rural and regional Australia, and did not impose withdrawal limits in a manner that resulted in complex and costly changes being made to the payments system.
David Bell, chief executive, ABA said that in the ABA’s submission to the Commission it highlighted a number of ways in which gaming venues can work with their customers, who have problems with gambling, to put in place certain strategies.
For example, smart cards and other stored value systems, as well as self exclusion and other harm minimisation measures.
The banking sector believes solutions should be targeted at problem gamblers - not the entire community - who may need access to cash to facilitate spending on other goods and services, like a meal at the pub, Mr Bell added.
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