Liquor & Gaming NSW has issued warnings after detecting credit-access ATMs in two Sydney locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Australia.- Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW)<\/strong> has issued a reminder to venues in New South Wales (NSW) after detecting ATMs with credit card withdrawal functions at two Sydney establishments. The regulator noted that under the Gaming Machines Act 2001<\/strong>, hotels or clubs with gaming machines are prohibited from having ATMs with credit access anywhere on the premises.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Wentworth Hotel<\/strong> in Homebush, owned by Iris Capital Group<\/strong>, received a direction to promptly remove the credit card withdrawal function from an ATM on its premises. This action followed a customer complaint regarding the withdrawal of AU$2000 from a credit account solely for gaming purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Earlwood Hotel<\/strong>, owned by the Orion Hotel Group<\/strong>, was also told to remove credit card access from an ATM on its premises and to remove promotional material related to gambling facilities displayed on the ATM screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n L&GNSW inspectors visited each hotel twice, and on all four occasions, they withdrew money from credit accounts using the ATMs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jane Lin<\/strong>, the executive director of Regulatory Operations & Enforcement at L&GNSW, stated: \u201cThese requirements are about limiting the harm that can be associated with gambling. Credit card restrictions are a fundamental measure that exists to stop people getting in over their head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have escalated our enforcement approach to these requirements, including by prosecuting offences and issuing statutory directions or using other administrative remedies to address instances of non-compliance to keep our community safe. Inspectors are out and actively testing credit withdrawal functions at licensed premises.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to L&GNSW, failure to comply with the authority’s directions carries a maximum penalty of AU$5,500.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Previously, L&GNSW ordered the Gaslight Inn and The Colombian Hotel<\/a>, also owned by Iris Capital Group, to relocate or screen gaming machines from interconnected rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n