Time for the AFL to ditch the gambling dollars

What we're doing about it 

Since 2015, the Alliance has been working with supporters and Champions for Change to pressure AFL clubs to live up to their community values by ditching the pokies. When we started, only one Victorian club - North Melbourne - had not entered the pokies business. Now 13 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! Now we must turn our attention to the toxic culture developing at the highest levels - the endorsement of sports gambling by the AFL itself.

How you can help

With more clubs than ever now out of the pokies business, the good news is that momentum is building. In 2018, Collingwood and Melbourne sold their poker machine venues, while Geelong and the Western Bulldogs have promised to exit completely by the end of this year. But there’s still much to be done to get gambling dollars out of Australia’s favourite sport.

1. Tell the AFL to get 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 $50 MILLION gambling sponsorship with BetEasy and pledge to never again take another dollar from the gambling industry.

SEND YOUR MESSAGE to AFL Chairman Richard Goyder, telling him that Australians want gambling ads off our televisions and dirty dollars out of our League.

2. Tell your club to ditch the pokies

We need to keep the pressure on these clubs still driving gambling harm.

Click the club below and tell them to ditch the pokies!

Tell the Hawks to get out of the pokies!

Tell the Blues to get out of the pokies!

Tell the Power to get out of pokies!

Tell the Tigers to get out of the pokies!

Tell the Bombers to get out of the pokies!

Tell the Saints to get out the pokies!

2018-2019 POKIES LEAGUE LADDER

How did your club go....?

HAWTHORN

Still the worst

The amount that people lost to Hawthorn's pokies rose from $24.3m to $24.8m in 2019. Hawthorn's 2 gambling venues have a total of 165 machines.

CARLTON

Still a pokies club!

Carlton's pokies habit saw total losses decrease slightly from $18.4m to $17.7m this year. The club's 4 gambling venues host a staggering 290 machines.

ESSENDON

Still a pokies club!

Essendon's pokies investment resulted in a minor decrease from 2018's total losses figure of $11.6m to 2019's $11.2m. Their 2 venues host 189 machines.

MELBOURNE

Now out of the pokies!

Melbourne exited the gambling industry in August of 2018. Before their exit, their 2 gambling venues had a total of 180 machines. They had cashed in $8.8m of people's losses.

COLLINGWOOD

Now out of the pokies!

Collingwood exited the gambling industry in December of 2018. Before their exit, their 2 gambling venues had a total of 156 machines. They had cashed in $7m of people's losses.

GEELONG

Now out of the pokies!

Geelong finished up their poker machine business in December 2019. Before they did so, their sole gambling venue had a total of 80 machines in operation. The total losses at this venue increased from $6.3m to $7m.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Now out of the pokies!

The Bulldogs exited the poker machine industry in November of 2019. In the 2018-2019 year prior, their 2 venues and 65 machines were responsible for a minor decrease of total losses from $6m to $5.9m.

RICHMOND

Still a pokies club!

Richmond's poker machines have again cost Victorians $5.3m in losses in 2019. Their sole venue has 97 machines.

ST KILDA

Still a pokies club!

The total number of losses to St Kilda's poker machines has increased from $2m to $2.4m in 2019. Their sole venue has 83 machines.

BRISBANE & PORT ADELAIDE

Still a pokies clubs!

Losses data for Brisbane and Port Adelaide's gambling venues is unavailable. However, with Brisbane owning 200 machines, and Port Adelaide 63, it's bound to be high.

Figures quoted are obtained from VCGLR 2018-19 gaming expenditure data.

Last updated 06/09/2019.