But the former Steelers legend, who is also a director of Wests Illawarra and Leagues Clubs Australia, also warned he cannot commit to policy which “denies the fundamental rights” of the club industry.

Pokie players lost more than $172million last financial year in pubs and clubs across the Illawarra, or about $593 for every man, woman and child.

The region’s clubs industry has railed against federal reforms designed to tackle problem gambling, including compulsory bet- size restrictions, saying it would cost them tens of millions of dollars.

States and territories must adopt the changes, known as mandatory pre-commitment, by 2014 or the Government will seek to enshrine them in law.

The debate comes ahead of Mr Dorahy’s campaign fundraiser this Friday night at Wests Illawarra - home to 261 poker machines.

Radio shock jock Alan Jones, a critic of betting limits, will host the night.

Mr Dorahy’s CV includes long stints for gaming machine giants including Aristocrat and IGT. He presently works as a business development manager at Crane Payment Solutions, a hardware supplier to the gaming, vending and retail sectors.

But he denied his gaming industry roots would sway his commitment to tackling problem gambling.

“My first position if elected to public office is to support the community in the best way possible. Whichever pathway needs to be taken I’ll stand up for Keira and the Illawarra … to look after the interests of the community,” he said.

Mr Dorahy said problem gamblers would always find another way to feed their addictions.

He said clubs were doing their best to assist those with gambling addictions, adding that “it’s difficult to put forward any commitment to that activity which denies the fundamental rights of the not-for-profit club industry”.