From RSLs to bowling clubs, Catholic clubs to Nippers, many venues in Australia can define themselves as clubs, allowing them to enjoy special not-for-profit status and tax breaks.

Many clubs also rely - to a greater or lesser extent - on poker machine revenue.

The federal government's proposed poker machine reforms would require gamblers to set their own spending limit in advance, and clubs are worried about the hit to their hip pockets. Many clubs say their very survival is at stake if the reforms go ahead - and that would threaten the valuable services they provide to the community.

But critics are questioning what social benefits clubs actually provide and how much of the money they make is channeled back into communities.