ATMs at venues under scrutiny: City pokie study

By John Van Klaveren
GEELONG will play a key role in a statewide gambling research project into the removal of ATMs from pokie venues.
Research team leader Dr Anna Thomas said the number of pokies in Geelong made it an important region.
The project would conduct surveys with people leaving Geelong region venues, she said.
“We’re trying to get as broad a representation from metropolitan and regional areas as possible.”
State Government has commissioned the project to evaluate removal of ATMs from Victorian gaming venues.
Dr Thomas said the study, running until next year, was seeking survey recruits. Each participants would receive a $50 Coles-Myer gift card.
Dr Thomas said the Swinburne University-led study would evaluate the effectiveness of prohibiting ATMs in gaming venues.
The study would investigate ATM removal on problem gambling and consumer protection for recreational gamblers as well as costs and unintended consequences.
The study coincides with Geelong councillors rejecting plans for 40 poker machines at Fyansford Hotel.
Geelong Gambling Advisory Committee chair Cr Jan Farrell wanted the ATMs study findings made available to the public.
“It’s important that any initiative is evaluated but the findings have to be made public in a timely manner without any censorship.”
Removing ATMs from gambling venues had become a “Clayton’s solution”, Cr Farrell said.
“The policy has morphed into patrons only having cash access if they leave the gaming room and go to the bar or dining area.
“In fact, they can access more cash across the counter than they could from an ATM.”