Pokies industry hands Libs a jackpot Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Limited POKER machine-linked groups punished Labor and helped build a financial war chest for the Coalition during the debate over the Gillard government's gambling crackdown. Labor pocketed little more than 10 per cent of about $1 million in donations and other receipts from the club, hotel and gaming industries during the height of the stoush over mandatory pre-commitment technology, which clubs claimed would hurt business. In contrast, the Liberal and National parties raked in more than $600,000 from the same groups. Before the current cash stockpiling for this year's federal election, political parties collected about $125 million in donations and other receipts during 2011-12, down from $225 million previously. Electoral Commission records yesterday revealed the Liberal and National parties collected $14 million more than Labor. The gap was clear in gaming, the Australian Hotels Association giving the Liberals more than $350,000, but only sparing a measly $5,000 for Labor. Clubs NSW also leaned conservative, giving $120,000, while only shelling out $50,000 to Labor. Gaming mogul James Packer donated $250,000 to key federal crossbencher Bob Katter's Katter's Australian Party's before the Queensland election, where they netted $1 million receipts helped by gun groups and unions. Mr Packer's Crown Limited also gave more than $100,000, with the share skewed towards the Liberals. And Woolworths gave almost $100,000, with $70,000 going to the Liberals. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie yesterday said it was little wonder the government broke its promise to him to introduce the original reforms which were opposed by the opposition. "No one hands over that sort of money without expecting something in return," he said. But ClubsNSW chief Anthony Ball said Mr Wilkie "never liked the average punters" and had even compared the industry to "third world dictators." "Thankfully the average club visitor doesn't think much of Andrew Wilkie's opinion," he said. Crown Limited declined to comment. The AHA did not return calls. The Liberal and National parties' haul of $63 million included $17.6 million from the Queensland Liberal National Party amid Campbell Newman's victory at the state's election. Tobacco companies had a quiet year despite the plain packaging reforms. The biggest Liberal receipts included $490,000 from The Free Enterprise Foundation, $155,000 from National Australia Bank and $80,000 from ANZ. After previous huge years with donations nearing $1 million, Clive Palmer had a quieter year even before his spat with the Queensland Liberal National Party. The billionaire miner's Mineraology company gave $180,000 to the LNP last year and another $27,000 to the National Party federally. Hancock Coal, run by Australia's richest person, Gina Rinehart, donated only $5000 to Labor and $22,000 to the Liberals. The haul swamped the $49 million that flowed into Labor Party coffers, driven by about $4.2 million from unions - including $175,000 from the cash-strapped Health Services Union. The Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Union gave almost $500,000, the Australian Workers Union $450,000 and the CFMEU about $372,000. The Greens raised $4.2 million during the same period, down from $13 million previously, with no repeat of the $1.6 million donation from Wotif founder Graeme Wood. The CFMEU provided $12,500 but four other unions who helped contribute to a combined $240,000 in union money the previous year were nowhere to be seen.