MELBOURNE, Australia -- Concerns about problem gambling have led the National Australia Bank to withdraw nearly all its ATMs from gambling venues by Oct. 1, when the machines' leases expire.
According to the Herald Sun, ATM withdrawal limits of $200 (U.S. $131) per transaction -- already enforced in Victoria -- have also been extended nationally for the duration of existing leases, the paper said.
NAB's machines at the Crown Casino will remain, however.
"The great majority of people who use those ATMs are not problem gamblers," said NAB Corporate Relations Manager Tim O'Leary. "But we're listening to the community and recognize that problem gambling is an issue."
Reverend Tim Costello, who chairs the bank's community consultation forum and is an opponent of gambling, called NAB's move a significant breakthrough in protecting the nation's estimated 290,000 problem gamblers.
"This was a gutsy decision for the bank to make ... principle has won out," Costello said.
NAB owns and operates and franchises 138 ATMs in Australian gaming venues.
Other Australian banks aren't prepared to follow the NAB's lead, however.
According to The Age, ANZ, Westpac and the Commonwealth Bank won't remove their ATMs from gambling venues.
"We don't have plans to follow suit at this stage," ANZ spokesman Paul Edward said.
"Our view is that problem gambling affects less than 1 percent of gamblers and we don't believe that removing ATMs is in the interests of the 99 percent plus of people who use those venues in a responsible way."
Edward added that he expects NAB's machines to be replaced by other machines upon their withdrawal.
Commonwealth Bank, spokesman Brian Fitzgerald echoed his sentiments.
"One of the things about the community is there are a lot of alternative cash withdrawal facilities available, and that's one thing which should be taken into account," he said.
According to the report, Commonwealth operates about 100 ATMs in gambling venues, while ANZ operates about 30.
Edward said ANZ is considering alternative ways to combat problem gambling.
"Our approach is actually to support target measures for people with financial problems, like supporting Victorian Credit Helpline."
Victorians last year lost $2.56 billion (U.S. $1.65 billion) gambling on poker machines.
