The ANZ bank is setting limits on problems gamblers who use their credit cards in gaming venues, in the same way bars can stop serving drunk patrons.
The bank has changed the terms and conditions for credit cards to create "speed bumps" that make it more difficult for people to use the product irresponsibly.
CEO Shayne Elliott said people would still be able to use an ANZ credit card at a gaming venue, but the bank did not want them going up to their maximum credit limit so they still had funds left over for normal expenses.
"While people can use their own money to participate in certain legal activities, when you're using a credit card, essentially that's the bank's credit provision and we do have a responsibility there," he told the banking royal commission on Wednesday.
Mr Elliott used the analogy of the responsible service of alcohol in a bar.
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"People can buy alcohol but at some point not if they're intoxicated," he said.
"We tried to apply those principles here to provide some level of protection to customers so they would not get themselves in harm's way by using our products perhaps irresponsibly."
He said while some minor players do not allow their credit cards to be used in gaming facilities at all, ANZ will essentially set a sub-limit on a card.
Once a customer reached 85 per cent of their credit card limit they would not be able to use the final funds in a gaming venue, he said.
Mr Elliott said ANZ has also dealt with customers facing hardship because of gambling problems.
