Around four per cent of the profit of automatic teller machine operator Customers Limited may be at risk as curbs on access to cash at gambling venues begin to bite from the middle of this year. The firm, which operates the largest fleet of ATMs in Australia, hopes to limit the impact on profit to two per cent.Customers Limited cited other head-winds as well in its profit report for the December 2011 half-year, which was released yesterday. These included the investment program needed to support third-party supply agreements, such as those with Coles and the Bank of Queensland (with more on the way). Fulfilment of the latter two agreements has requires the installation of 80 new ATMs every week recently.The firm is also quickly expanding its fleet of 500 ATMs in New Zealand, with 800 being the short-term aim. Independently owned ATMs in New Zealand can now process withdrawals using cards issued by all domestic banks, a milestone reached only this month.The half-year financial report shows that Customers missed guidance on its EBITDA profit, which was provided only four weeks ago. Reported EBITDA was A$17.4 million compared with around $18 million projected at the end of January, with a shift in accounting policy for "ATMs withdrawn from service" being the reason for the lower profit number.Net profit for the half was $2.7 million, down from $11.6 million a year ago. The company received a tax benefit last year and is now paying company tax.The subdued profit did not deter the board from resolving to pay out 100 per cent of its interim profit as a dividend.One prop for future profits may be further rises in ATM fees. Over the last year fees per transaction increased nine per cent.The gross margin per transaction increased four per cent, even though rebates paid to merchants increased to 64 cents, from 51 cents."I'm very pleased with the elasticity of the direct charge," Tim Wildash, managing director of Customers, told an investor briefing yesterday."Three years ago we talked about $2. Now it's $2.50, and $2.50 is the base."Wildash said around 110 of the firm's ATMs were affected by new laws in Victoria that ban ATMs in gaming venues from July. He said he hoped to sell an Eftpos cash-out product to venue operators as an alternative.