Latest data from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation revealed gamblers dropped more than $93,000 a day on poker machines in the region.

Hamilton’s Grand Hotel collected the biggest slice of pokie losses, with $3.84 million fed through its machines, followed by Warrnambool’s Mac’s Hotel on $3.6 million and City Memorial Bowls Club on $3.46 million.

Other Warrnambool venues to increase their pokie take include the Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool Football Club, Warrnambool RSL, Flying Horse Bar and Bistro and Rafferty’s Tavern.

The Warrnambool Bowls Club recorded a minor decline.

Bethany Community Services chief executive officer Grant Boyd said a lot of people gamble responsibly, but there are people who have problem gambling behaviours.

“It's always a concern when we see millions of dollars being lost out of a community into gambling,” Mr Boyd said.

“For every person who has a gambling problem, research shows it will affect seven more people. Usually it will be their partner, family or people from the workplace.”

Mr Boyd said one of the biggest concerns for Bethany was the effect problem gambling had on children.

“It can have a lasting impact on children and the face of gambling is changing so much online,” he said.

“Smart phones make gambling accessible 24 hours a day. Children are at risk as there are a number of sites which offer pseudo-gaming.”

Bethany offer a gambler’s help program and work closely with groups including schools, to teach the community to recognise and help problem gamblers.

Mr Boyd said gamblers or the family or partner of a gambler can call the statewide Gamblers Help and they will be connected to the services Bethany offer.

There are 486 electronic gaming machines in the region, with 234 in the City of Warrnambool, 120 in the Glenelg Shire, 75 in Southern Grampians Shire and Corangamite Shire have 57.

Poker machines cost gamblers $18.2 million in Warrnambool, $6.29 million in Southern Grampians, $2.93 million in Corangamite and $6.89 million in Glenelg.

There are no pokies in Moyne Shire with a council policy against machines.