The laws, which are under development and could come into effect next year, mean gamblers would have to carry cards on which they set spending limits before they can play the pokies.

Cash machines near pokies will also have a $250 cash limit.

Gamblers will have to nominate how much they want to play each day and they can’t spend any more once they reach that limit, even if they go to another club.

Muswellbrook RSL Club chief executive officer Daryl Egan said clubs would see a 40 per cent decrease in profits if the reform was passed.

“Those losses will have to filter down into the community through a 40 per cent loss in jobs and 40 per cent less donations to the community,” he said.

“Clubs who aren’t making a profit will be wiped out.

“The cost to upgrade all the poker machines to this system will fall onto the individual clubs and they just won’t survive.”

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said the policy needed to have the right balance.

“The policy needs to address problem gambling but not do unnecessary damage to clubs,” he said.

“That’s why I am taking the concerns raised by local clubs to the [Gaming] Minister and Prime Minister.”

Mr Fitzgibbon said there would be an impact on clubs and their donations to local organisations if the policy wasn’t right, but there was a definite need to address problem gambling.

Mr Egan said the RSL Club was involved in the “Who voted for less privacy?” campaign.

“We have coasters, banners, stickers, television and radio ads and petitions because we believe it is un-Australian and you should have the right to spend your money where you want,” he said.

“Australians are big gamblers. The Australian thing to do is bet on two flies crawling up the wall.”

He also said the plan would not stop problem gamblers.

“Problem gamblers can still set their own limit; they can gamble $1000 a day if they choose to,” he said.