Michigan committee considers moving ATMs outside casinos

Amy Franklin

Wednesday, March 22, 2000 | 11:50 a.m.

LANSING, Mich. - Detroit casinos would have to move their automated teller machines off their premises to help gamblers avoid spending too much money under a bill considered Wednesday by a state House committee.

The legislation would force gamblers to leave casinos, taking them out of the gambling environment so they could better decide if they want to continue betting, GOP Rep. Wayne Kuipers of Holland told the House Gaming and Casino Oversight Committee.

"We can't control the cash that people are bringing into casinos, but we can make it more difficult for them to access cash when they get there," Kuipers said. "Readily accessible cash just adds fuel to the fire."

The legislation does not address the problem of compulsive gambling, said Patrick LaPine, spokesman for the Michigan Credit Union League.

That is not the intent of the legislation, said committee chairman James Koetje, R-Grandville.

"The social problems caused by compulsive gambling are not necessarily attributable to ATMs," Koetje said. "This is not going to strip compulsive gamblers of their problem."

Current law requires ATM machines to be 50 feet away from gaming machines. But that isn't far enough, Kuipers said.

"Compulsive gamblers need to get away from the action," he said. "This would allow gamblers who maybe had a big loss a chance to clear their heads."

Rep. Artina Tinsley Hardman, D-Detroit, warned that casino patrons could be robbed on their way back from an ATM if it's placed outside a gambling hall. Kuipers replied that casinos could add security to escort customers to cash machines.

Michigan banks do not favor gambling, but say they're concerned that the bill would prohibit banks from serving their customers, said Don Heikkinen of the Michigan Bankers Association.

It's likely the proposed legislation will not be able to keep national banks' ATMs out of casinos, Heikkinen said. But Koetje said the Legislature can regulate the location of any ATMs.

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Eds: The casino ATM bill is House Bill 5265.