ACT clubs are expected to give the go-ahead within days for formal talks with the Gillard government on a trial of technology to curb problem gambling.
However, the clubs have been left in the dark over what software needs to be installed on the territory's poker machines to force players to nominate how much they are prepared to lose in a session.
The chief executive of ClubsACT, Jeff House, said yesterday he would be making a positive recommendation to Thursday's meeting of club chiefs.
It will be the first discussion by the group since the government finally put an offer for the trial.
''As I've previously said, this is the start of a process rather than the end,'' he said.
But gambling addicts may easily be able to avoid setting limits on their spending.
This loophole could occur if the trial followed the recommendation of the Productivity Commission that players could choose ''no limit''.
The government has offered to compensate ACT clubs for $37 million if they hold a trial next year of the mandatory pre-commitment technology.
It would force players to register for a card to play poker machines in a network that would stop gamblers moving from machine to machine after their self-imposed limit had been reached.
However, the trial will exclude Queanbeyan clubs unless the powerful NSW clubs sector relents in its hostile opposition to the federal government's move.
Mr House said his members would have the opportunity to put forward issues and concerns which would form the basis of negotiations with the government.
''The offer document still leaves a great deal of detail that we don't know, for instance what we're actually going to trial, the equipment that's required, the software,'' he told The Canberra Times.
''There is a whole range of issues that aren't covered in any detail in the offer document that we'll need to keep talking to the Commonwealth about.
''We are keen to demonstrate that there is genuine progress being made and I am hopeful that at the end of the meeting we will be able to demonstrate the ongoing discussion with the Commonwealth can continue on a more formal footing.
''I have had discussions with many members and certainly there is good will and general agreement that we should continue the conversation with the Commonwealth.''
Mr House expects the meeting to give the go-ahead for the formal talks with the government, in which the details of the trial would be examined.
''I'll certainly be encouraging the meeting to continue to have the discussion with the Commonwealth,'' he said.
''I will be recommending that we continue negotiations and continue those in good faith as we have been up to this point.''
Mr House said the club industry believed ''sanity had prevailed'' when Ms Gillard broke her promise to Independent Andrew Wilkie to introduce legislation by May for full mandatory pre-commitment technology.
Her watered down reforms include the 12-month trial in the ACT and a $250 daily withdrawal limit on ATMs in all gaming venues except casinos.
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