Councillors and experts want to know why residents of one Melbourne council are putting $500,000 a day through the pokies.

The City of Brimbank has the unenviable distinction of the highest daily record in electronic gaming machine losses in Victoria in February.

The council has recorded the largest such losses in the state for the past eleven years, but things are getting worse. 

The numbers have increased significantly since Melbournians left stage four lockdown, with losses of $14.7 million in December 2020 and $13.8 million in January 2021 - the two highest loss months ever in Brimbank.

February saw the state's highest ever daily losses of up to $482,168 in Brimbank. Over the last decade, the area has lost more than $1.4 billion.

Brimbank Mayor Ranka Rasic says it is clear that many residents have moderate to severe problems with gambling.

“It's not a coincidence that the areas with the highest level of pokie machine losses are also some of the more disadvantaged,” Cr Rasic said.

“We are number one and we don't want to be number one.”

Gambling addiction expert Professor Charles Livingstone says Victoria’s statewide expenditure increased by 8 per cent when the last big lockdown ended, but in Brimbank, it was up well over 17 per cent in real terms.

Dr Livingstone says people often turn to gamlbing for relief from stressful conditions, uncertain employment and fears about the future. However, he says there is no clear reason why Brimbank’s losses are higher than other lower-socioeconomic local council areas in Victoria.

Cr Rasic has met with Victorian government Minister for Gambling, Melissa Horne, to raise her concerns, and says drastic reform is needed.

“I think we have been forgotten,” she said.

“The state government needs to acknowledge its own addiction and its reliance on gambling venues as income.”

The council wants a reduction of operating hours, maximum $1 bets and daily $200 maximum EFTPOS limits.

The Victorian government says it is investing in new research on the impact of the pandemic on gambling.