The AFL has backed Melbourne's pokies venture

THE Demons took $11.2m in gaming and social club revenue in 2013, with the AFL partly guaranteeing Melbourne's loan.

Melbourne chief executive Peter Jackson.

THE Demons have taken $11.2 million in gaming and social club revenue in 2013, as it emerged the AFL is partly guaranteeing Melbourne's loan with the state gaming regulator.

The revenue figure is up from $6.9 million in 2012 and was revealed after Monday's Herald Sun reported the 1466 poker machines operated by Victorian AFL clubs had generated more than $100 million revenue this year.

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Details of the AFL's stake in the Demons' gaming arrangements were revealed in Melbourne's annual report and comes 19 months after league boss Andrew Demetriou said there was interest from clubs in getting out of the pokies business.

Demetriou indicated the league would help facilitate football clubs selling off their machines.

Since then, Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond have added to their pokies arsenal, while the Western Bulldogs have applied to almost double the number of machines at their venue in Dromana, from 20 to 38.

News_Rich_Media: A big-bodied midfielder with a precise kick, Sandringham Dragons star Christian Salem is expected to be a top 15 AFL Draft pick in 2013.

Melbourne has 92 machines at the Leighoak Club in Oakleigh and a further 88 at The Bentleigh Club, although eight are not active.

The Demons have a $2.3 million loan with the Victorian Commissioner of Gaming Regulation, which relates to paying for gaming machine entitlements over the next four years.

The club's annual report notes: "This facility is supported by a $1.4 million guarantee provided by the Australian Football League. The facility is also secured by a fixed and floating charge over all existing and future assets of the club".

The AFL also guarantees the Demons' $4.1 million operating loan facility, of which $3 million was drawn as of October 31.