News

Australian IADs seek to lift lid on ATM withdrawals at gaming clubs

A group representing the ATM industry says that 65 percent of the money withdrawn from club ATMs isn't even used for gambling.

August 26, 2015

Gambling club operators in the Australian capital of Canberra are petitioning the capital territory's legislative assembly to remove a $250 per day cap on ATM withdrawals on their premises.

According to a report by Canberra Times, a representative of Australia's ATM Industry Reference Group said that transactions at club ATMs were down 10 to 19 percent since the cap was enacted. Transactions at ATMs near clubs were also down — by 8 to 12 percent, he said.

Further, he said, most of the money withdrawn (65 percent) was used for to pay for items not related to gambling, such as food and beverages inside the club, and other purchases outside of the club.

AIRG supports a ban on ATMs on the gambling floor and the display on ATM screens of "harm minimization" messages, the report said.

An informal poll by the Times showed nearly a 2-to-1 margin in readers who favor lifting ATM withdrawal limits in clubs.