AFL clubs’ pokies profits climb to record $105 million

FOOTY’S addiction to poker machine cash has climbed to record levels — accounting for a third of some club revenues, a new report reveals.

FOOTY’S addiction to poker machine cash has climbed to record levels — accounting for a third of some club revenues.

A new report reveals pokies losses at pubs and clubs controlled by AFL teams topped $105 million last financial year alone.

Punters’ losses on 290 money-spinning machines operated by Carlton totalled $17 million, or 30 per cent of the Blues’ total revenue.

The IBISWorld report lists Hawthorn as the AFL’s second-richest club behind West Coast, with assets minus liabilities of $41.6 million.

The Hawks have 165 poker machines, which stripped punters of $19.5 million last year — 28 per cent of total revenue.

Brisbane (29 per cent), Essendon (23 per cent) and Melbourne (22 per cent) also rely heavily on pokies.

AFL clubs and pokies

AFL clubs and pokies

Anti-pokies campaigner Tim Costello said it was time for the AFL Commission to address the scourge of gaming machines.

“These shocking figures prove most AFL clubs don’t simply dabble in poker machines, but in fact they have a full-blown addiction,” he said.

“How can any club possibly justify getting a third of its revenues from an addictive and deadly product?

“The clubs need help and the AFL must step in.”

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan met Rev Costello and Senator Nick Xenophon 16 months ago to discuss the AFL’s pokies habit and has since conceded there is some discomfort among clubs.

“It’s something we’ve talked about a lot,” Mr McLachlan said last year.

“We looked at one stage ... as an industry, could we exit them, but it’s challenging.”

North Melbourne, the only Victorian club without pokies, sits 16th on the club-revenue ladder.

AFL clubs and pokies revenue.

“For perspective, if North Melbourne had the same pokies and hospitality takings as Hawthorn, they would be the fourth-largest club in the AFL in terms of revenue,” the IBISWorld report said.

“North Melbourne are currently only ahead of Greater Western Sydney and the Gold Coast in terms of revenue. Pokies revenue has gradually risen as a share of total club revenue over the past decade.”

Collingwood is the AFL’s third-richest team with assets of $35.3 million, but was No. 1 in total revenues, bringing in $71.5 million.

Profit of $11.5 million on the Pies’ 146 poker machines equates to 16 per cent of the club’s revenues.

The Brisbane Lions are listed as the poorest club with assets minus liabilities of negative $10.8 million, but managed revenues last season of $48.7 million.

Gold Coast recorded the lowest revenues of $35.7 million.

West Coast does not own any poker machines, but comfortably rules the roost as the game’s wealthiest AFL club.

“West Coast’s long membership waiting listing and dominant position in a two-team town allows it to generate the highest return per member across the AFL,” IBISWorld said.

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Richest in the land: AFL clubs by assets minus liabilities.