Melbourne suburb puts $14.6 million through pokies in one month

Gamblers in Melbourne's west are haemorrhaging almost half a million dollars a day on poker machines.

Despite last year's months-long lockdown, staggering new figures show the losses have gotten worse.

9News spoke to Oscar, 68, who admitted he was a compulsive gambler who had lost "maybe $200,000" on the pokies.

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"It's worse than heroin or cocaine or alcohol," he said.

In March, gamblers in the western suburb of Brimbank put more than $14.6 million through the pokies – the most in Melbourne.

In the past 10 years, the people of Brimbank Council have lost a collective $1 billion on the pokies, which Mayor Cr Ranka Rasic said was "terribly frustrating".

She said the council had no influence over industry regulation and is calling on the state government to step in with strong action.

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"We need to reduce the number of machines and the hours they are open," Cr Rasic said.

"We're also advocating for maximum $1 bets, daily $200 maximum EFTPOS limits, and a 'sinking cap' policy to encourage a reduction in EGMs over time.

"Brimbank Council will advocate for these reforms but it is up to the State Government to implement changes to help our community."

Premier Daniel Andrews' office has said it is already working on the issue, freezing pokies numbers across the state, limiting early cash withdrawals, and capping the number of pokies in areas most vulnerable to gambling harm.

If you need support visit, Gambling Help Online.