As announced by Australian Premier John Brumby, ATMs will be banned from slot machine halls in Victoria as of 2012, in an attempt to decrease the number of people with gambling addictions in the country. Year 2012 was chosen since licensing agreements with slots operators will end by then.

“I’m not sure whether venues with multiple entertainment areas will be allowed to have ATMs in non-gaming areas,” Premier Brumby explained. However, he added that further details would be given when the laws were formally presented, including the fact that some venues will be exempted especially in towns where there are few ATMs.

Concerning the modification of existing licenses so as to enforce the new legislation sooner, Mr. Brumby said that was not possible. “It hasn't been a condition of existing licenses,” he explained. “It does require the co-operation of the commonwealth (which controls banking regulations) and what I've indicated to you today is that we will be talking to the industry about a transition plan up to 2012.”

According to Brumby, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd supports the plan to remove ATMs from slot machine parlors and believes it is a very good idea. This new measure will help the Rudd government war on problem gambling, which includes a reduction in slot machine spin rates and the introduction of smartcard technology.