This year, Victoria has taken a stern stance on problem gambling. Local politicians have employed a number of responsible gambling measures that aim to curb gambling addiction rates, and they seem to be working thus far. According to the Herald Sun, problem gamblers in Victoria are spending less money on pokies, thanks to the state’s ban on ATMs in gaming clubs.

A recent review of the ban found that the average problem gambler now spends $90 less when visiting hotels and $43 less when visiting clubs. Moderate risk gamblers spend $37 less at hotels and $18 less at clubs. "Many gamblers found the removal of ATMs had ­increased their feelings of control over gambling spending and this was especially the case for higher risk gamblers," reads a quote from the report.

During the six months after the ban was passed, poker machines losses had dropped by 7%. Victoria was the only state to experience this decline, as other states have not yet introduced a ban on ATMs in pokie venues. Federal reforms have only introduced withdrawal limits, restricting players from withdrawing any more than$200 at a club or hotel. Some players have found ways to circumvent the ban.

While ATMs no longer exist in gaming clubs and hotels, players can still use EFTPOS to withdraw cash. Few gamblers use the system, because it is less inconvenient than using an ATM, but some compulsive players will withdraw EFTPOS cash to chase their losses. In some cases, high-risk players will bring extra cash with them since they cannot use ATMs.

Gaming Regulation Minister Edward O'Donohue is pleased with the results of the ban. Without ATMs in the poker machine clubs, players do not have the option to withdraw more cash when they have exhausted their spending money. They cannot chase their losses, helping them develop more responsible spending habits when it comes to gambling expenses.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.