Mr Xenophon says areas with high numbers of children are reporting gambling increases.

An 80 per cent increase in poker machine takings in South Australia in the past week is being linked with the Federal Government's child bonus that was paid last week.

No Pokies MP Nick Xenophon says since the $600 per child was paid directly into parents' accounts, an extra $731,000 has been spent on pokies.

He says it is more disturbing that the problem was mostly in the northern suburbs, where there are more children and therefore more lump sum bonuses.

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Mr Xenophon says in areas such as Glenelg, where there are fewer children, less has been spent.

"Last night I spoke to a pokies industry insider [and] he's told me that in some venues the turnover has increased up to 80 per cent in one day since the bonus has come through," he said.

"Overall in some venues he said he felt nauseated that some money designated for kids was going to the pokies and that is someone who makes the money in the industry."

Source: ABC News Online