Others, who have seen what poker machine addiction can do to a person, believe the changes can't come quickly enough.

ClubsNSW has lobbied the federal government to stop the introduction of mandatory pre-commitment systems and "low-impact" poker machines with a $1 bet limit.

It claims the reforms would wipe out 40 per cent of revenue at most clubs; it would be an attack on their viability as businesses, the organisation says.

General manager at Blacktown RSL Alan Middleton said revenue from poker machines at his club was about $12 million a year; about 80 per cent of its total revenue.

The changes were a threat to the club's very existence, he said.

"I think it's going to affect clubs as an industry quite devastatingly and I don't think our club is any different.

"A big part of our money comes through the gaming and that pays for the structure that we have got."

All profits a club makes beyond $1 million can either be taxed or it can pay 1.5 per cent of that profit to community groups.

Mr Middleton said many community organisations would be left short by the government's poker machine reforms.

On the other side of the poker-machine argument is Bob Rogan who, through Blacktown Salvation Army, has counselled people with addictions for the past eight years.

"Addiction to gambling is the hardest one to counsel people for — that includes, drugs, alcohol, pornography and dependency," Mr Rogan said.

"People can lose everything before they realise they have a problem.

"I don't think laws do enough to protect problem gamblers. Most problem gamblers say they are only going to put in $10 or so, then when they get to that the lights go off in their head.

"They think, 'I can have a win' and they put in another $50 and another $20."