New polling shows 81 per cent of people in Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman's electorate want to see pokies either reduced in number or removed altogether.

Key points: New poll shows "Premier's electorate wants change in policy" on pokies

New poll shows "Premier's electorate wants change in policy" on pokies Government to introduce a public interest test for new poker machine venues

Government to introduce a public interest test for new poker machine venues Tasmanian Hospitality Assoc. to campaign against any rollback

The ReachTell Poll comes as a State Government inquiry investigates the future of the local gaming industry.

More than 50 community groups, councils, unions and professional associations have formed The Community Voice on Pokies Reform to call for the machines to be removed from pubs and clubs and restricted to the state's casinos.

The grassroots campaign has been inspired by stories of Tasmanians damaged by poker machine addiction — people like Karyn, whose first flutter on the pokies 20 years ago lead to serious problems.

"It could be half an hour and you've gone through the rent money, the grocery money," she said.

"You feel like such a bad person when you have done the wrong thing with the money.

"And you do illegal things. You do think of suicide, I did."

Karyn is currently getting help for a gambling addiction. ( ABC News: Natalie Whiting )

Karyn is now getting help for her addiction from Relationships Australia.

"We're looking at [removing poker machines from pubs and clubs] as being necessary because of what our clients tell us," Jules Carrol from Relationships Australia said.

"They tell us if poker machines were not in pubs and clubs it would make it much easier for them to address their problems and to avoid them altogether."

Community groups have previously argued that removing poker machines would also have economic benefits.

Poker machines could become key election issue

Unlike other states, all of the poker machines in Tasmania are owned by one company, The Federal Group.

The company maintains good measures are in place to protect problem gamblers.

"We think problem gambling is always of concern to Tasmanians, but we've got to remember that it's half of 1 per cent of the adult population at the last social and economic impact study, so we think gambling and gaming has been introduced very responsibly," Daniel Hanna from Federal said.

The State Government has said it wants to end The Federal Group's gaming monopoly and reduce the number of poker machines allowed in the state by 150, but the machines already in place would remain.

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association and The Federal Group have put forward a plan that would see pubs and clubs own the poker machines, similar to what is done in other states and territories.

"It would provide certainty for those hotels and clubs that have already got gaming machines and have made significant investments in their facilities over the years," Mr Hanna said.

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The Labor Opposition won't release a policy on poker machines until the Government inquiry hands down its report, despite having an MP on the six-person committee conducting the investigation.

If Labor backs the community campaign to remove poker machines from pubs and clubs it would be the first major party in the country to take that position and it would likely become an election issue when the state heads to the polls in March.

Mr Hanna said unprompted poker machines did not register as a key election issue for voters.

"Tasmanians are most concerned about issues like unemployment, about having a strong economy, about having a good health system and education system and feeling safe in their homes and in the street," he said.

'It would be devastating': hotels flag concerns

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association has committed to campaign against Labor if it calls for a roll back, warning that it could lead to job losses.

Naiche Watson, the licensee of the Campbell Town Hotel, said his 20 poker machines bring in around $800 a week and are an important part of the business.

Naiche Watson has taken over the licence of the Campbell Town Hotel from his step-father Gary Whitney ( ABC News: Natalie Whiting )

He is worried removing them could force the pub to close.

"It would be devastating for me and my family and everyone concerned and especially the local community," he said.

Mr Watson took over the license from his step-father Gary Whitney a few months ago.

"Where does it end? Once the pokies are gone, who knows, the TAB could go, something else could go — Keno could go and then the pub's gone. That's it. A town needs a hotel," Mr Whitney said.

But not all hotels agree — several Tasmanian pubs that don't have poker machines have joined the calls for a roll back.

'A legitimate form of entertainment'

The Australia Institute commissioned the ReachTell Poll of more than 700 people in the electorate of Franklin this month on the issue of poker machines.

"Just over 80 per cent of voters in Franklin either wanted to reduce or completely phase out poker machines," the institute's Leanne Minshull told 7.30.

"And of those people there were 73 per cent of Liberal supporters, so the premier's own base want to see a change in policy on poker machines."

The Australia Institute has conducted polling on poker machines in the seat of Franklin.

The polling showed 40 per cent of people wanted to see poker machines removed, while a further 41 per cent wanted a reduction in the number of machines.

"Pokies are a legitimate form of entertainment for many Tasmanians who gamble responsibly that help support many small pubs and clubs around the State," a spokesman from the State Government said.

"We won't be banning them."

The Government did acknowledge that problem gambling was an issue for some people but said it would be introducing a public interest test for new venues requesting poker machines.