Under a federal government plan, pokies – which reap billions of dollars for sporting clubs every year – will be reprogrammed to cap losses at $120 an hour rather than $1200 an hour, but lower intensity machines will not require any form of pre-commitment.

The changes are largely being driven by fears that independent member Andrew Wilkie will revoke his support of the Gillard government if it does not implement them.

There are divisions on all sides of the argument.

Clubs Australia says the cost of implementing the changes are too great, yet it has backed voluntary pre-commitment which would have the same, or similar cost implications. We have the state government which says voluntary pre-commitment is the best outcome, yet has done little to further its pre-election promise.

We have AFL club presidents – such as Collingwood leader Eddie McGuire – who claim the changes would amount to a “tax” on football. These are the same clubs which claim to be part of developing communities but use the massive profits from gaming machines for overseas training camps and multi-million training facilities.

It’s an unusual stance for clubs and a league which has been a leader in so many aspects of taking our nation’s society to a better place through tackling issues such as racism. The AFL has seen many high-profile cases of problem gambling in recent years.

Clearly, the league and the clubs are conflicted over their responsibilities as community leaders, and the need to remain profitable.

It is quite logical that a message of voluntary pre-commitment could be sold as a major breakthrough for those who are pushing gaming machine reform. Instead, it has become an argument of all (mandatory pre-commitment) or nothing (the status quo) due to the tenuous political tightrope our nation is currently straddling.

That’s not going to help problem gamblers.

In Ballarat, the city council wants to reduce the impact of gaming machines but is fighting through the boundaries set for clubs by the previous state government auction. Ruin the clubs, or ruin the fans. If you believe the arguments on both sides this week, the only thing to bet on is two losing parties.