It’s a sad day in the land of Oz when we choose “a nice meal on a Saturday night” over a mate battling problem gambling.

THE poker machine reformers Senator Nick Xenophon and the independent MP Andrew Wilkie confronted 100 angry club supporters at the Narrabri Golf Club amid concerns that pokie curbs may hurt towns.

”It was quite a direct meeting, and its not over,” said Mark Coulton, the National MP for Parkes, who has 83 clubs in his electorate, the second-highest number in Australia.

Mr Coulton said the local country hotel often had the only ATM in town, and he is concerned the proposed reform would also see a $250 daily cash withdrawal limit imposed where poker machines were located on the premises. Small clubs also used poker machine revenue to cross-subsidise other community activities, he said.

”My concern is these reforms might make it difficult for a couple of problem gamblers, but if the local town loses its only facility where you can hold a function or get a nice meal on a Saturday night, the cost might be too great,” he said.

Article, Locals confront MPs over pokie plan.