THE RSPCA is investigating reports a north Queensland casino patron slammed a possum onto a table and killed it.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty understands a man on the VIP balcony of Townsville's Jupiter's Casino picked up one of the possums that frequents the area by the tail and slammed it onto a table, killing it.

The incident was reportedly told to police in the early hours of Friday, December 23.

An RSPCA investigator travelled to Townsville today to review CCTV footage from Jupiters Casino and interview witnesses.

Mr Beatty said the RSPCA would consider prosecuting if the story was true.

Intoxication was not an excuse for cruelty, he said.

"Why somebody would think that's a macho, machismo thing to do is beyond me," he said.

"I've been known to be drunk in my past on numerous occasions but I don't go around slamming possums into tables."

Originally published as Casino patron 'slammed possum to death'