On Monday Clubs Australia and the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) launched a campaign branding proposed “licences” to punt on pokies as “un-Australian”.

The campaign contests a Federal Government push for pokies players to register before inserting a card into a machine whenever they want to bet.

Club Mudgee general manager, Owen Hughes, said projections by Clubs NSW suggest gaming income would drop by 30 per cent and many venues across the state would close.

“It’s not just an obligation for the punters but there are also costs of putting in the new pre-commitment system,” he said.

Federal independent Member of Parliament Andrew Wilkie has reported not all gamblers would have to comply with the pre-commitment arrangements.

Mr Wilkie has suggested ideas such as low maximum bet and low jackpot machines which may lose between $20 and $50 per hour. Another option would allow gamblers to purchase $30 pre-paid cards, all outside the mandatory pre-commitment.

However Mr Hughes said the options would not work.

“Members at our club don’t want an over burden placed on them,” he said.

“People come to our club and have a flutter uninhibited and want to do what they want when they want.

“Many of our members are also older and would not like new regulations and change.”

NSW member for Upper Hunter and Minister for Tourism, George Souris, has backed the Clubs Australia campaign and said a mandatory pre-commitment system would drive punters underground or online, and not fix problem gambling.

Mr Hughes said all clubs were aware of the seriousness of problem gambling and current legislation should be looked at to not only cover venues but online gaming.

It is reported five million people play a poker machine each year and 95,000 of those are problem gamblers.