Independents Nick Xenophon and Andrew Wilkie have warned the major parties they will start targeting marginal seats in their fight against gambling.

Senator Xenophon told Lateline that the next election could be just two years away and their campaign could make a difference.

"This has to be seen as a marginal seats campaign to target those seats for the next election, which according to some reports could be only two years away, to actually make this an issue that will actually swing the outcome of seats in key electorates," he said.

Senator Xenophon and Mr Wilkie want a $1 bet limit on poker machines and a ban on gambling ads during sports broadcasts.

They also want to reinstate a joint select committee on gambling reform.

Nick Xenophon and Andrew Wilkie want a $1 bet limit on poker machines and a ban on gambling ads during sports broadcasts. ( AAP: Alan Porritt, file photo )

Senator Xenophon said it is going to be a "potent issue" by the time the next election comes around.

"There's one thing the gambling lobby can't compete with no matter how many millions they pour into the campaign, the fact is there are literally hundreds and thousands of Australians hurt by gambling addictions," he said.

"Conservatively, one in 10 Australians are being affected by gambling addiction in this country and that's a very significant constituency that can't be ignored."

Mr Wilkie said political donations from big gaming companies should be scrutinised.

"We need reform of political donations generally and we need to do what we can to shine a light with the current laws with where the money's coming from and where it's going," he said.

Grassroots campaign targets AFL

The Alliance For Gambling Reform outside an AFL game in Melbourne. ( ABC: Hamish Fitzsimmons )

Meanwhile, in Melbourne some anti-gambling football fans have started their own grassroots campaign to stop poker machines in sporting clubs and gaming advertising during matches.

The Alliance For Gambling Reform has targeted AFL games, asking fans to sign a petition calling on clubs to get rid of poker machines.

Susan Rennie says they have also asked local business owners to get on board.

"There's only so much money to go around in the local community and here we've got a very local, lovely strip shopping centre of the type that communities generally value," she said.

"If poker machines go in just over the road, then they'll take $6 million out of this community."

But thousands of clubs fund their teams through gaming revenue and argue that without it, many sports, especially juniors, would be worse off.

Mark Condi, the chief executive of Bankstown Sports Club, which has 745 gaming machines, said they had given back $22.7 million to the community over the past 10 years.

"That's a combination of sporting clubs and various groups from aged care and other community groups that are looking after all sorts of people in the area, which is great," he said

"Our primary purpose of existence is to support junior sport in the areas of Bankstown and Baulkham Hills which are our two main areas of operations."

Watch the report and interview with Nick Xenophon and Andrew Wilkie on Lateline at 10.30pm (AEST) on ABC TV.