Victoria's gambling regulator is under more pressure to investigate the use of small plastic picks on poker machines at Melbourne's Crown Casino amid allegations they are leading to an "astronomical" increase in losses for problem gamblers.

A video posted on YouTube from an anonymous person calling themselves a croupier at the casino shows a pick, with a Crown Casino logo on it, jammed into a poker machine's buttons so it plays continuously without the need for human input.

The mobile phone video shows a piece of plastic about twice the size of a guitar plectrum and about as thick shoved into the "play" button on a poker machine, which then spins automatically.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie is in contact with the man and says he is prepared to speak with regulators about what he knows.

Mr Wilkie displayed one of the picks to the media today, clearly emblazoned with the distinctive Crown Casino logo.

Sorry, this video has expired Video from Crown whistleblower shows how picks jam machines

"[We have] a new whistleblower, new allegations, and even video footage of these picks being used at Crown Casino to, in effect, illegally modify a poker machine," said Mr Wilkie.

Picks 'accelerate your loss rate dramatically'

The picks reduce the time between spins to as little as two seconds, with no manual input from the gambler.

The more picks the gambler obtains, the more machines they can autoplay at once, further increasing their losses.

Monash University gambling researcher Charles Livingstone said the picks had the potential to cause untold damage to problem gamblers and their families.

He is also calling for an urgent investigation.

"The casino needs to be forthcoming about why it's supplied these picks, if indeed they did," he told the ABC's PM program.

"The money that you would go through would be astronomically increased."

Dr Livingstone said the desire to use autoplay was an indicator of a serious gambling problem.

He said players were being offered multiple picks and multiple loyalty cards to enable them to get loyalty points on several machines.

"I've heard of one whistleblower… she had 20 which she'd been given over a period of time at the casino by the staff within the gaming room," he said.

"[That's] encouraging people to undertake an activity which is extremely dangerous."

Is the regulator doing their job?

Autoplay is banned under legislation except in designated "special" areas in the casino.

"If they were used outside a designated area, then they would definitely be breaches of the legislation and would mean the casino should be subjected to prosecution by the regulator and penalties imposed," Dr Livingstone said.

But the use of picks even in those areas, he believes, is clearly a breach of the industry's code of ethics.

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) did fine Crown Casino $300,000 earlier this year for an unrelated breach.

To put that in context, research shows each poker machine at Crown makes about $320,000 a year for the casino.

"A fine of $300,000 is less than the revenue that Crown would get from an average machine out of its 2,680-odd machines," Dr Livingstone said.

Sorry, this video has expired Former staff allege Crown Casino 'tampered with poker machines'

Mr Wilkie said if the allegations were proven, it would call into question whether or not Crown Casino is fit to hold its license.

He said public confidence in the VCGLR was at stake.

"If the regulator doesn't do its job, then the State Government needs to act, and we need to consider whether other bodies such as the anti-corruption body would need to become involved," he said.

The commission told PM it was aware of the allegations but did not reply to a series of questions put to it via email.

Crown Casino did not respond to multiple requests for comment.