The former boss of Crown Casino's staff social club has been jailed for stealing $280,000 in club funds and blowing most of it on the pokies.

Ian Leonard Smith, 53, began using the club funds for his personal use after a co-worker went on maternity leave leaving him in sole charge of the money, the Victorian County Court heard.

At the height of his gambling habit, Smith was slotting $2,000 or more into poker machines a week at Melbourne CBD gaming venues.

Smith, of Meadow Heights, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft totalling $281,000.

He used most of the money for gambling but also to fund his lifestyle.

Judge Joe Gullaci said Smith's actions amounted to a serious breach of trust.

"It appears to me you were like a child in a lolly shop - it was all handed to you and there was little checking," he said.

The judge said Smith had shown remorse, had paid back $60,000 of the money, and had undertaken counselling and had strong family support.

He jailed Smith for two years and three months but suspended one year and four months of the term.

The court heard Smith was a long-term casino employee who at one time worked in the high-roller Mahogany Room.

In 2005, he joined the 2,500-member social club, which took in $70,000 a month from its members.

The theft from the club's bank accounts took place in 2007-08.

He spent almost $30,000 of stolen funds on services, including dating and adults websites, car hire, airline tickets.

He also paid for hotel accommodation, including at the casino's own Crown Promenade Hotel.

The married man also gave $8,000 to a woman he met from an internet relationship, the court earlier heard.

Smith told police he gambled away most of the cash on poker machines and that his actions were "reprehensible" and "shameful".

The court heard $60,000 of the funds had been repaid but Smith will have to repay the casino $215,000.

Judge Gullaci said Smith was unlikely to re-offend and, that at his age, it would be unlikely he would find a job with such ready access to money.

Independent Senator for South Australia Nick Xenophon said Smith's conviction proved gambling venues were incapable of identifying problem gamblers.

"This is a man who stole directly from the casino to fund his poker machine addiction and the casino didn't notice," he said.

"How can this casino be trusted to act responsibly when it comes to identifying other problem gamblers after this?"

Senator Xenophon said academic research showed employees of gambling venues were at a higher risk of becoming problem gamblers.

In a statement, Crown CEO David Courtney said: "Crown can advise that none of the alleged gaming activities took place at Crown".