Church taskforce backs pokie reforms

Poker machine reforms cannot come soon enough for those at the coal face of helping problem gamblers piece together their shattered lives.

Federal Labor has promised a tougher approach to pokies, based on an agreement it made with independent MP Andrew Wilkie before forming minority government.

One possible change might force gamblers to nominate betting limits before playing the pokies."

A taskforce of church leaders and social service workers, headed up by anti-gambling campaigner Tim Costello, met in Canberra on Wednesday to show their support for the move.

Mr Costello told reporters churches were "at the point of pain" helping families deal with the fallout of pokies addiction which often meant kids going hungry, families facing bankruptcy and crime.

"We're seeing the human cost of this," he said.

It was important Australia recognised the danger of high-intensity pokie machines at which players could lose more than $1500 in an hour.

Mandatory pre-commitment technology for those machines would help problem gamblers who wanted to help themselves, Mr Costello said.

He played down the gambling industry's claim of high job losses, adding he thought it was appropriate that small clubs received an extension to implement the changes.

"A million dollars in hospitality creates 20 jobs, a million dollars spent in retail creates 10 jobs, a million dollars spent on pokies creates one job," he said.

"We think these measures will create jobs rather than lose jobs."