Gaming venue licensee convicted of allowing cash withdrawals from credit cards
The licensee of an Artarmon hotel which operates gaming machines has been convicted, fined and ordered to pay legal costs totalling $32,000 for operating an ATM with credit access.
The licensee of the Freeway Hotel was prosecuted by Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) and found guilty in the Local Court of breaching section 47C of the Gaming Machines Act 2001.
L&GNSW investigated the hotel in 2023, finding the hotel had permitted more than $1.4 million to be withdrawn from the ATM on the premises from credit card accounts since 2016.
Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, Dimitri Argeres, said hotels or clubs with gaming machines are not allowed to have ATMs with credit access in any part of the premises.
“Venues having ATMs that permit the withdrawal of cash from a credit card account can allow patrons to gamble beyond their means and potentially create an environment of gambling harm,” he said.
“Credit card restrictions are an important measure to stop people from gambling with money they don’t have.
“Liquor & Gaming takes a zero-tolerance approach to these types of breaches, and venues caught doing the wrong thing can expect to be prosecuted and face significant penalties.”
This is the third penalty imposed on gaming venues for allowing ATM credit card access in the past year, including the Olympic Hotel at Paddington and the Wentworth Hotel at Homebush West.
For free, confidential advice and support, call GambleAware on 1800 858 858 24/7 or visit www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au
Liquor & Gaming NSW, 12th February 2026
