Victoria's gaming regulator has approved more poker machines in one of Melbourne's worst areas for family violence - despite admitting that gambling fuels the problem.

Rates of family violence in the City of Hume are among the highest in Victoria with more than 1550 cases recorded for every 100,000 people. Punter losses on pokies in Hume last financial year were also among Melbourne's worst – more than $106 million lost in 12 months.

New polling suggests very strong support in Canberra for tighter rules about how much money people can lose at a time. Credit:Bloomberg

Only a small increase in poker machines was approved by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation last week – the Highlands Hotel in Craigieburn, where punters lost $8.1 million last financial year on 60 machines, was allowed to add another 20.

But social impacts are given only "marginal weighting" when the gaming regulator considers applications.