Vic govt reaps $1.6b from gambling losses

Victorians gambled away $5.8 billion during the past financial year while the state government received $1.6b in taxes from gaming venues, new figures show.

Almost half of the billion-dollar losses happened on poker machines in Victorian hotels and clubs, with gamblers losing another $1.9b on machines and table games at Melbourne's Crown Casino.

Almost two thirds of all hotel gaming machines had an average of more than $12,500 in player losses per machine, according to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation's annual report published on Tuesday.

In October more than 40 organisations - including GetUp and the Australian Christian Lobby - launched the National Alliance for Gambling Reform aimed at reducing the harm caused by gaming machines.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers are also preparing legal action targeting casinos, machine designers and pubs and clubs over poker machines opponents say are designed to get people addicted.

GAMBLING TAXES PAID TO THE VIC GOVT IN 2014/15:

* $961.6m from gaming machines at hotels and clubs

* $205.4m from machines and tables at Melbourne casino

* $58.7m from sports betting

* $397.5m from lotteries

* $4.1m from Keno

GAMBLING LOSSES IN VICTORIA IN 2014/15

* $2.6b at machines in hotels and clubs

* $1.9b at machines and tables at Melbourne casino

* $857.9 million on sports betting

* $500.6m on lotteries

* $16.7m on Keno

Source: Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation