The policy will now include a planning scheme amendment "to reduce the number of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in areas of disadvantage, reduce convenience [of] EGM gambling, and influence venue design that does not encourage EGM gambling".

The changes to the gambling policy come after the council was 'burned' in a time-consuming battle at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal where it fought a Western Bulldogs proposal for 70 electronic gaming machines (EGMs) at Club Edgewater.

The Bulldogs won the case and the hearings cost the council and ratepayers $825,000.

The case is dragging on with more hearings this week discussing the Bulldogs' plan, as part of planning permit conditions, to relocate pokies from its other venues.

The council says the plan is not to its satisfaction. Council and the Bulldogs had a preliminary hearing at VCAT on Monday. The matter is yet to be settled.

The Weekly this month reported that Maribyrnong punters lost $56.6million on the pokies in 2010-11, up marginally on last year's figure of $56.2 million. The losses amount to $986 for each person in Maribyrnong - well above the average state loss of $611 per person.

Dr Charles Livingstone, a senior lecturer in the department of health social science at Monash University, said it was "appalling" that councils had limited powers when it came to deciding if and where gaming venues could be built.

He said any regulatory measures to increase their say were welcome, particularly in disadvantaged suburbs like Braybrook where average losses were up to $3200 per person per year.

"This appears to be part of a process the council is undertaking to make sure it gets its case right when it does go to appeal. In practicality, when councils have decided not to approve [a gaming application] they've had to fight an appeal and more often than not they've lost.

"It's a ridiculous situation for local governments, which have more than enough to spend time and money on."

Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said: "We have one of the highest ratios of gaming machines per 1000 adults in the state, yet we have some of the most social and economically disadvantaged areas in the state.

"This policy will give council a greater say on where gaming machines are placed," she said.