Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is standing by his suggestion the Coalition would kill off Labor's poker machine pre-commitment scheme if it gains power, but his pronouncement has created unease within his party.

On Tuesday night Mr Abbott told a rally of more than 1,000 people at the Campbelltown RSL that forcing poker machine players to set an amount they are willing to lose will not help problem gamblers.

The independent MP championing the changes, Andrew Wilkie, says he hopes it is all a misunderstanding.

Mr Wilkie, who has promised to remove his support for Labor if it does not deliver the changes, says Mr Abbott has previously supported poker machine reforms.

"He made it clear to me at that stage that he too agrees we need genuine poker machine reform in this country. So I think there's just a misunderstanding here, or maybe just a bit of a gaffe; he went too far," Mr Wilkie said.

But today Mr Abbott made it clear that his words were deliberate and not a slip of the tongue, saying the Coalition would probably axe the scheme because it is against the incursion of the "nanny state".

Mr Abbott says he is not making any promises, just a prediction his party is likely to repeal any mandatory pre-commitment scheme laws.

"We haven't seen any legislation. It hasn't gone to the shadow cabinet," Mr Abbott said.

"It hasn't gone to the party room, but I do know my party room. I know the mood of my party.

"I know the values and principles of my party and we are instinctively resistant to anything that smacks of the nanny state."

Upon hearing Mr Abbott is standing by his stance, Mr Wilkie says Mr Abbott is threatening measures that would reduce problem gambling.

"Not only are they well thought out, as recommended by the Productivity Commission, they are popular," he said.

"And I think Tony Abbott doesn't seem to understand that. I think he's clearly out of step with the majority of public opinion. So I'm happy to sit down with Tony and to step him through this again."

Split decision

But Mr Abbott's pronouncement has also created unease among some of his backbenchers.

A number of Coalition MPs have pushed for stronger action to reduce problem gambling, particularly on poker machines.

Mr Wilkie says Mr Abbott could be taking a risk.

"There does appear to be a split within the Coalition when it comes to poker machine reform," he said.

"A number of Coalition members have come up to me over the last 12 months and spoken to me about the need for reform, and they agree with the thrust of my reforms and the thrust of the Government's reforms."

Liberal MP for Moore Mal Washer has repeatedly raised his concerns about problem gambling.

He has not criticised Mr Abbott's comments, but he has emphasised that the Coalition has not yet decided whether it will back the poker machine changes.

"I think that when we get back the first Tuesday we're back, we have a party room meeting that should come up and we should discuss this," Mr Washer said.

"Now, Tony Abbott, our leader's position may be reflective and exactly what the party room agrees to, and if so well I'm happy to ride by that, but that's a discussion to be had.

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"I don't think Tony's put himself in the position where he's locked himself in 100 per cent; I think he's left if open to party room discussion."

And while there are some differences over poker machine laws within Coalition ranks, the divisions run much deeper within the ALP.

Mr Abbott says many frontbenchers resent the changes being forced on them by Mr Wilkie.

"The Labor Party is bitterly divided on this. It's obvious that Labor members of Parliament, including Labor Cabinet ministers hate it," Mr Abbott said.

"People need to understand that the only reason the country is now considering mandatory pre-commitment is because it was necessary for the political survival of the Prime Minister."

Either way, it is clear the Government is facing an increasingly difficult task as it tries to force the scheme through Parliament.

Counselling idea

Sorry, this video has expired Abbott predicts opposing pokie laws ( Greg Jennett )

Mr Abbott says it makes more sense tackling problem gambling by expanding counselling services.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard rubbished Mr Abbott's stance.

"Heaven's above, Tony Abbott's saying no to something, who'd of thought? Look I'm unsurprised, you know any proposition that's ever put in the public policy debate Tony Abbott says no," she said.

Not surprisingly, clubs are delighted by Mr Abbott's words.

The industry has been running a well-funded campaign against the changes, targeting MPs from both major parties.

Clubs Australia chief executive Anthony Ball says Mr Abbott is in "many ways a voice of reason" on problem gambling.

"For us it's actually a welcome intervention into the debate. We've been hearing a lot about silver-bullet solutions; it was encouraging to hear one of our political leaders talk about a holistic approach that included education, counselling and addressing online gambling as well," he said.

Mr Ball says the industry is already working to reduce problem gambling and Mr Wilkie's proposals will not fix the problem.

And he says MPs should remember that problem gambling will never disappear completely.

"Unfortunately there will always be problem gamblers; there will always be a small part of the community that engages in destructive behaviour," he said.

"Our challenge is to get to that 2 per cent of players.

"There seems to be people who spend too much, eat too much, drink too much; there are people who take illicit drugs, there is that kind of behaviour that's undertaken by a small part of the population, that's the reality of the world."

As Mr Abbott predicts the Coalition will repeal the poker machine laws, it has also emerged Channel Nine was planning a campaign against the changes.

The Nine Network's managing director wrote to the Dragons Rugby League Club three months ago, offering to highlight the threat posed by the changes in its NRL coverage.

The on-air campaigning by some NRL commentators is now under investigation.