Time for the AFL to ditch gambling dollars
Sport brings us together, and that's what we love about it. Footy, in particular, is an integral part of our culture. It's about community. That's why it just doesn't make sense that clubs around Australia still use pokies to fund their operations, or for the AFL to be in bed with foreign bookmakers.
What we're doing about it
We’re working with supporters and Champions for Change to pressure AFL clubs to live up to their community values by ditching the pokies. In 2008, North Melbourne was the first Victorian club to take a principled stance. Since then, we’ve seen Collingwood completely exit, and Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, and Geelong commit to getting out for good.
Now, more than half of AFL clubs can proudly say they’re on the way to becoming pokies free! And it’s all thanks to people like you. You’ve written letters, engaged fans, lobbied politicians and even run for Club Boards. But there’s still more work to be done, with five Victorian clubs doubling down on their investment and pledging to operate pokies until 2042!
How you can help
1. TELL AFL CLUBS TO DITCH THEIR POKIES
Carlton, Hawthorn, Essendon, Richmond, St Kilda, Brisbane and Port Adelaide all continue to profit from harm. Click on the club below to send them a letter telling them to ditch the pokies!
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2. GET THE AFL OUT OF BED WITH BOOKIES
In 2017, AFL Chairman Richard Goyder publicly came out against the pokies. Now it’s time for the AFL to ditch their $8 MILLION per year gambling sponsorship with Sportsbet!
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2019-2020 POKIES LEAGUE LADDER
How did your club go....?
HAWTHORN
Still the worst
Hawthorn's pokies extracted $18.2m from the community last financial year. Their 2 gambling venues host 165 machines.
CARLTON
Still a pokies club!
Carlton's pokies habit saw $13.4m added to its coffers. The club's 4 gambling venues host a staggering 290 machines.
ESSENDON
Still a pokies club!
Essendon's pokies investment resulted in $8.2m entered on their balance sheet. Their 2 venues host 190 machines.
GEELONG
Getting out of pokies!
The Cats have agreed to a sale of their venue with 80 gaming machines, with final settlement expected in 2020. Last years' losses totaled $5.5m.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Getting out of pokies!
The Bulldogs have also agreed to sell 2 pokie venues and 65 machines. Together these took $4.4m in losses. This sale is yet to be finalised according to the VCGLR website.
RICHMOND
Still a pokies club!
Richmond's poker machines have again cost Victorians $3.5m in losses. Their sole venue has 97 machines.
MELBOURNE
Getting out of pokies!
Melbourne partially exited the gambling industry in 2018. Gaming entitlements at their remaining club are set to expire in August 2022. In the meantime, 88 machines continue to earn them $2m.
ST KILDA
Still a pokies club!
St Kilda's 83 poker machines has earned them $1.7m from their sole venue in the last financial year.
PORT ADELAIDE & BRISBANE
Still a pokies club!
Losses data for Brisbane and Port Adelaide's gambling venues is unavailable. However, both clubs own venues with poker machines.
Figures quoted are obtained from VCGLR 2019-20 gaming expenditure data.
Last updated 24/07/2020.
