More than $65.2 million was plunged into electronic gaming machines in the area in 2010-11, up $430,000 on the previous year. Manningham’s rates generated $59.3 million last year.

In the same period, pokies spending in Whitehorse dropped $240,000 to $55.8 million.

Both municpalities were well behind Brimbank in the city’s north-west, where gamblers plunged more than $139 million into pokies in 2010-11, and Casey, in the outer south-east, where machines collected slightly more than $124 million.

Experts warned that those who can least afford to gamble were losing the most money.

Monash University gambling researcher Charles Livingstone said: ‘‘We’ve seen a hardening up of the core gamblers. There’s a bigger proportion coming from those who have the least control of their expenditure and those dropping off are more likely to be casual recreational gamblers.’’

Overall Victorian gamblers spent more than $2.65 billion on pokies last year, up 2.1 per cent on 2009-10. In Manningham, the figures equated to $687 spent on gambling by each adult per year, well above the state average of $611.

Manningham councillor David Ellis said the figures were alarming. ‘‘This speaks volumes about the way this parasitic and non-productive industry milks the financial resources of Victorian communities,’’ he said.

Cr Ellis said while the council had a stringent gambling policy it had limited powers to address the problem.

Dr Livingstone said people in the outer suburbs spent so much on pokies because they lacked other recreational opportunities. ‘‘Clubs like to claim they invest heavily in local communities, but the majority of claims are their own operating costs, which is a ridiculous and misleading way of assessing ... community benefits.’’

The state government has committed $150 million over four years to gambling research and treatment. Gaming Minister Michael O’Brien last month announced grants of up to $200,000 for gambling research programs.

“Tackling problem gambling and helping those who need support requires a coherent and integrated approach that is supported by good evidence,” he said.