A move to allow gamblers access to EFTPOS inside South Australian poker machine rooms has been slammed by anti-gambling campaigners, who say it will increase problem gambling.

The SA Government legislation, which has now passed State Parliament, will allow gamblers to access cash through face-to-face EFTPOS transactions inside hotel and club gaming rooms.

Existing laws force them to leave gaming rooms and draw cash out through ATMs or EFTPOS facilities outside the gaming area.

Police Minister Tony Piccolo said the change would be beneficial because there would be "human interaction" to complete the EFTPOS transaction.

But Uniting Communities advocacy manager Mark Henley said he was "staggered" by the decision.

"What quality interaction will there be with a gaming staff member inside a gaming room where the objective is to basically maximise the return from poker machines?" he said.

"Forcing a person to go outside the room to get money requires them to break their play, and to basically have the potential for some more rational thinking.

"Poker machines are very effective at reducing rational thinking. That's why they're so addictive."

Mr Piccolo said the Government had consulted widely before pressing ahead with changes.

"If the EFTPOS facility is located in the gaming area there is a greater chance, a better chance, of the appropriate intervention where a gambler is being observed and served by a trained gaming manager or employee," he said.

"By actually having the machine inside, the person will actually get to understand their behaviour and there are trained people who will talk to people and provide the counselling and support."

Federal independent senator Nick Xenophon said it was "very difficult" for staff members to recognise problem gamblers and to take action.

"It hasn't been effective," he said.

"The Productivity Commission made it very clear that the easier the access to cash, the bigger the risk of problem gambling, particularly problem gamblers chasing their losses.

"You will see additional levels of problem gambling with this particular change."

He said his state colleague, John Darley, moved an amendment to knock the provision out of the legislation but it was completely "friendless".

"No-one supported it. No-one from Government, the Opposition or crossbenchers, which was just incredible," Mr Xenophon said.

Mr Xenophon said it was a "cynical cash grab" by the State Government, which would rake in in "millions of dollars extra" in poker machine taxes from some of the "poorest and most vulnerable people in the community".

Government thought 'long and hard' about change: Minister

Consumer Services Minister Gail Gago said the Government had thought "long and hard" about the change.

EFTPOS will become available inside SA gaming venues. ( AAP: Alan Porritt )

"It's actually a measure we've put in place to reduce problem gambling because it means that for them to withdraw money they have to interact with a trained person," he said.

According to Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Ian Horne, problem gamblers were less likely to seek cash if they had "to confront a real person".

"A human being and go through that process as opposed to the anonymous process of going to an ATM or a bank in a street or something like that," he said.

"I think the research and the experience is on our side."

Liberal MP Troy Bell, whose electorate includes Mount Gambier in the state's south-east, said he had "grave concerns" with the bill when he first read it.

"I was really concerned that the State Government was trying to water down regulations on cash withdrawals within pokie machine venues," he said.

But Mr Bell said there was a "couple of distinctions to make".

"EFTPOS is not an ATM machine. It's an over-the-counter transaction ... people get a beverage and can get cash out in that face-to-face transaction," he said.

Mr Bell said forcing people to leave the gaming area may have been beneficial.

"It's been well documented that breaking the concentration — breaking the audio and visual stimulation that poker machines provide — in some instances provides an opportunity for people not to resume gambling," he said.

"This is most relevant to those who have an addiction."

The legislation will also make it unlawful to play a poker game for money in a public place, but tournament poker which does not involve gambling will not be affected.