Most of Canberra's clubs are now using cash-out machines that critics say are a way to dodge the $250 a day limit on ATM withdrawals.
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Gambling and Racing Commission chief executive Greg Jones says the machines are being used in the vast majority of clubs and expects to have advice on the issue with Gaming Minister Joy Burch on Monday.
The Salvation Army expressed concern a year ago. The commission alerted Ms Burch again late last year and was asked to monitor it.
Mr Jones said he had surveyed all clubs in January, and while he could not discuss his confidential advice to Ms Burch, use of the machines had accelerated. They were in the vast majority of clubs, and some had multiple machines.
They looked very similar to an ATM but had to be activated by a staff member – although that could be done remotely.
They were not illegal, but Mr Jones said the commission was "certainly suggesting that the minister discuss the matter with the industry" with a view to self-regulation among clubs or a change in legislation if she was concerned.
"If you look at the policy intent [of the ATM restriction], which was to restrict access to cash at a gaming venue to assist in controlling problem gambling and if this is being used as a way of getting around that, then I guess the policy needs to be looked at," he said.
Anti-pokies senator Nick Xenophon has described cash-out machines as "a cynical, sneaky way" to get around the law.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr faced concerned callers on talkback radio on Friday, with one describing them as "sneaky little machines" allowing people to get "endless" cash, another claiming that at her club the ATM had a sign directing people to the cash machine if they needed more, and a third saying they involved "no interaction with staff beyond "can you flick the switch" which "they do without even a blink".
But Mr Barr said the machines meant "engaging with a person".
"For example, if you were buying a soft drink and a hamburger and then wanted to withdraw $2000 with that, that would be a pretty clear signal to a human being across the other side of the counter from you that something is up here and would lead to a human intervention."
The idea was to "make people stop and think", but there was only so much a government or club could do to stop someone who was determined, he said, given people could simply head to an outside ATM.
Dr Charles Livingstone, a gambling researcher at Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said the issue pointed to a key problem with gambling laws - that states and territories had such an interest in the income that they introduced "half-measures" rather than simple rules known to work, such as a limit on bets and pre-commitment, he said.
"We end up with these quite labyrinthine processes where we're supposed to be helping people control their spending where everybody knows that more straightforward measures ... would be much more likely to reduce the harm."
Forcing problem gamblers to approach a staff member when they needed money did have an impact – but the extent would depend on how much interaction was required, he said.
Clubs ACT chief executive Jeff House said the machines were more secure than cash in a till, and gave people access to cash without "having to wait at the bar for service".
"Post the ATM withdrawal limits, some clubs felt for both business and security reasons that these eftpos machines were the way to go," he said. "It still requires human interaction, and as I understand the policy of the government, while ever human interaction is part of the process in terms of harm minimisation that's the threshold – and that's a threshold that we agree with."
Asked about the suggestion that all staff had to do was "flick a switch", he said, "Whether it's flicking the switch or a higher degree of interaction, it is still the case that in all circumstances you need to deal with a staff member to access cash which means if someone is accessing cash frequently that is a potentially trigger for a conversation to be had with that patron."
If problem gamblers had to access cash elsewhere, clubs would lose the opportunity to identify and approach them, he said. "You need as many opportunities as possible to identify them – and having an interaction with staff when they withdraw money is one of those methods," he said.
Gaming Minister Joy Burch said after being advised by the commission late last year of concerns, she had "instructed the commission to monitor the situation and report back".
"When I receive that advice, I will determine whether action is required," she said.
The Canberra Labor Club, owned by the Labor Party, did not return calls. Southern Cross Club chief executive Ian Mackay said the machines complied with the law, and gave clubs extra security compared with getting cash over the bar.
