An anti-pokies lobby group is campaigning against the Victorian Labor government in the battle for the inner Melbourne seat of Northcote.

Alliance for Gambling Reform spokesman Tim Costello has slammed the government’s bill to extend poker machine licences by another 20 years ahead of the November 18 by-election.

Mr Costello says existing licences don’t expire until 2022 and the bill, which sailed through the lower house last week 81-3 votes, will help lock in another $70 billion in poker machine losses until 2042.

“I’m here in Northcote saying to Northcote by-electors, I know you hate the pokies … and did you know that we don’t even get an inquiry (into gambling),” Mr Costello said on Sunday.

Northcote is a marginal Labor seat and and at risk of falling to the Greens following the death of government MP Fiona Richardson in August.

Treasurer Tim Pallas was out-and-about in the suburb with Labor candidate Clare Burns hours before Ms Costello’s walk-through, and argued extending poker machine licences would give venues financial certainty.

“We’ve been approached by the Australian Hotels Association, by Clubs Victoria and others who have made it clear that in order to be able to invest, in order to be able to employ, they need the certainty … of their income,” Mr Pallas said.

“And electronic gaming machines, whether we like it or not, do provide a vital part of the business that these companies provide.”

-AAP