Parties hit jackpot in political donations

Anti-gambling campaigner Andrew Wilkie has described the cash splash of political donations from the pokies lobby as "corruption of governance on an industrial scale".

The poker machine industry chipped in hundreds of thousands of dollars to the major parties' coffers in the lead-up to the federal election and parliament's passing of modest anti-problem-gambling measures, Australian Election Commission disclosures show.

The federal coalition, which opposes mandatory precommitment technology being rolled out to pokies and an ACT trial, received a windfall before last year's election, according to the 2012-13 figures.

"No business hands over that sort of money without expecting something in return," Tasmanian independent MP Mr Wilkie said in a statement.

In 2012, the federal parliament passed watered-down measures aimed at curbing problem gambling after two years of vocal opposition from the clubs lobby.

The Abbott government now plans to overturn all these measures, which include ATM withdrawal limits and an ACT trial mandatory precommitment technology.

The technology requires gamblers to nominate the amount of money they are prepared to lose on high-loss machines, which can chew through $1200 an hour.

The coalition's repeal is expected to pass the Senate in coming weeks, with Labor agreeing to wave the bill through.

"Frankly, they should all hang their heads in shame," Mr Wilkie said.

The figures show that Woolworths, owner of the largest poker machine operator in Australia, gave Labor $50,950 and $64,935 to the Liberal and National parties while its pokies arm, Australian Leisure and Hospitality, also made donations totalling $30,376 to the Liberal Party but gave nothing to Labor.

The Australian Hotels and Hospitality Association Inc gave the Liberal and National parties $422,320 and Labor $22,700.

Clubs NSW chipped in $205,110 to the coalition and $121,200 to Labor.

Casino operator Crown Limited gave $42,650 to Labor and $86,428 to the Liberal Party.