An Australian-first study has found gamblers in poorer suburbs are losing more than three times the money to poker machines compared to gamblers in more advantaged areas.

Key points: The report found pokies were entrenching disadvantage in poorer areas

The report found pokies were entrenching disadvantage in poorer areas It found on average adults were spending $1,000 more a year in poorer suburbs

It found on average adults were spending $1,000 more a year in poorer suburbs In the year long study researchers never saw staff at venues interrupt problem gambling

The Australian Centre for Gambling Research, which is funded by the Federal Government, compared losses on poker machines in two clusters of suburbs on opposite sides of Melbourne.

The centre found on average adults in the western suburbs around Sunshine lost about $1,400 per year compared to $400 in the eastern suburbs around Box Hill.

The gambling research centre hopes to get funding for similar studies in other areas of Australia and believes results in other cities would be similar.

In total, the more disadvantaged western cluster of suburbs lost $55 million last year on poker machines; the more affluent eastern cluster lost $18 million.

The study found the number of pokie venues and machines in the west outweighed those in the east eight to three.

Pokie venues in the west had children's play areas. Venues in the eastern suburbs did not.

Dr Angela Rintoul from the Australian Gambling Research Centre said the disproportionate levels of poker machines showed how gambling could entrench disadvantage.

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"One gambler I spoke to in the east ... described the inconvenience of his dishwasher being unable to be repaired for six months because of his losses due to gambling," she said.

"Whereas many gamblers I spoke to in the west spoke about literally not being able to feed their children."

Distressed gamblers not approached by gaming venue staff

Researchers found there were more than double the number of pokies in the west. ( ABC News: Gregory Nelson )

Part of the study included researchers turning up unannounced at venues to watch gamblers.

They never saw staff ask a problem gambler to take a break.

"Hitting the machine, getting distressed and agitated at the machine, we saw lots of examples of that. There was no interruption by the staff in those situations," Dr Rintoul said.

While the year-long study was underway, the local council for the western cluster of suburbs, Brimbank City Council approved an increase of 68 poker machines to 80 in June 2015 for a club in Deer Park.

In the eastern cluster of suburbs, Whitehorse City Council did not object to an increase of 95 to 108 machines to the Box Hill RSL in January 2015, which was later approved by Victoria's gaming regulator.

Pokie addiction claims couple's house and 40-year marriage

Conny McClaughlin kicked her gambling habit 14 years ago. ( ABC News: Dean Whiston )

Conny McClaughlin speaks with authority about poker machines and their addictive qualities.

"I lost $350,000 on the pokies," the former factory worker said.

For 10 years she gambled away her family's money in Melbourne's western suburbs, not far from the site of the Australian Centre for Gambling Research's study.

"There are repercussions that go on for years and years and years," Conny said, "It all goes back to the pokies."

Conny kicked the habit 14 years ago, with the support of her husband, TAFE teacher Robert McClaughlin.

For years, they spoke publicly against poker machines and Conny worked as a volunteer counsellor for gambling help lines.

But the couple's finances never recovered from her gambling.

With Robert looking after his elderly parents, the couple cannot afford to pay their mortgage, and are selling their home of 13 years.

Conny and Robert McClaughlin say pokies destroyed their marriage. ( ABC News: Dean Whiston )

The McClaughlin's said pokies had destroyed their marriage.

"Even today. It still impacts. You think you've got it out of your head, but it just keeps coming flooding back," Mr McClaughlin said.

They still live in the same house, but plan to separate after selling the property.

"It impacted our marriage in a way. The guilt from the pokies, and the guilt from spending all that money," Mrs McClaughlin said.

She said she would move into the local caravan park with some proceeds of the family home.

"This [property] was always security and now it's gone," she said.