Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has predicted a Coalition government will "rescind" any mandatory pre-commitment scheme brought in to reduce problem gambling.

The Government plans to introduce laws forcing gamblers to set a betting limit before they start playing high-intensity poker machines.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says he will withdraw his support for Labor if the changes do not go ahead, but Clubs Australia and the NRL have mounted a major campaign against the proposals.

Mr Abbott told a rally of more than 1,000 people at the Campbelltown RSL in south-western Sydney last night that problem gambling was an individual issue which can be dealt with by counselling.

He described the pre-commitment legislation as bad law that could not be supported by any sensible party.

"When this legislation comes before the Parliament I predict that we will oppose it," he said.

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"And if this legislation is passed by the Parliament and if we then subsequently form a government, I predict we will rescind it. That's what I predict."

Talkback radio host Alan Jones told the crowd the proposed pokies reforms would erode the nation's social fabric.

"What happens when the local club is gone?" he asked. "The social repercussions of mandatory pre-commitment are enormous."

And rugby league legend Phil Gould not only damned the proposal, he also condemned the government which wants to bring it in.

"We are only here because we live under the rule of the worst prime minister in Australia's history," he said.

Mr Abbott told the rally the proposed laws would do vast damage to the community without helping serious gamblers.

"The local cricket, the local netball, the local soccer, the local Aussie Rules, all of these organisations would be in the lurch," he said.

"But by all means let's do more to help the problem gamblers of Australia but let's not do it in a way which risks renting the social fabric of this country."

It is not expected Mr Abbott will be able to rescind the poker machine reform even if the Coalition wins government in the next election due to the Greens' support of the reform in the Senate.

Mr Abbott would need to call a double dissolution election to be able to remove the proposed law.

Reforms defended

Labor MP Laurie Ferguson defended the government's plans, telling the clubs rally that of the $19 billion gambled each year by Australians, $12 billion goes through the pokies.

"Amongst problem gamblers, 75 per cent of them are people who play poker machines," he said.

People who attended the rally last night said they felt the proposed reforms would endanger clubs.

"We are going to lose big time and there's not going to be any donations for anything that we support anymore - and then they won't be able to survive anymore," one person told the ABC.

"It could destroy us and it could destroy a lot of social things on the club," another said.

But not everyone at the meeting agreed. Part-time shop assistant Marie jumped on a poker machine as soon as the rally finished and said she used the machines "about twice a week".

Marie told the ABC she gambled "roughly $200 maybe" on each visit.

She said she thought the plan for mandatory pre-commitment was "good".

"It might sort of make people think and say, 'Oh well, I better just you know, stop spending."

'Ignoring' the evidence

This morning independent Senator Nick Xenophon said Mr Abbott was making a mistake by planning to rescind the proposed laws, and predicted dissent in the Coalition party room over Mr Abbott's position.

"Tony Abbott should not ignore the evidence of the Productivity Commission on this," he said.

"This is something I need to sit down and talk to Tony Abbott face to face [about] because what he has said is a mistake, it's based on the false evidence if you like, it's based on a scare campaign and a fear campaign by Clubs Australia, it doesn't reflect community opinion."

Senator Xenophon says the reforms were recommended by the Productivity Commission and it is not just about mandatory pre-commitment.

"The principle reform is to ensure that there are one dollar bets, that you limit the losses," he said.