In Hobart yesterday for the Our Island Our Voices alliance, Senator Xenophon released a survey of 1000 Tasmanians that showed eight out of 10 want tighter regulations on the state's poker machines, including a single bet limit of a dollar.

His views about Tasmania's poker machine regulations had been overstated by Premier David Bartlett, Senator Xenophon said.

"Tasmania has the least worst of bad (poker machine) regimes only because there are no automatic tellers in your pubs and clubs," Senator Xenophon said.

"Your Government is turning its eye to jackpot junkies and is suffering from premature exaltation.

"Poker machines are an economy killer and not a job creator.

"Gambling taxes are fool's gold because 50 per cent of losses come from problem gamblers."

Spokesman for the Federal Group Brendan Blomeley said there was no evidence to support the claim that smaller bet limits would help problem gamblers.

He said he believed no other state or territory intended to drop the single pokie bet limit below $5.

Senator Xenophon urged the State Government to commit to a maximum single dollar bet.

In its draft recommendations on gambling the national Productivity Commission called for all states and territories to set the maximum bet limit on gaming machines to one dollar. The commission's final report has been sent to Assistant (federal) Treasurer Nick Sherry for comment.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said a Liberal majority government after the March 20 election would set the dollar limit.

Human Services Minister Lin Thorp said if other states went to a dollar, Tasmania would follow.

Mr Blomeley said he doubted the other states would agree to the $1 limit.