Recent statistics have revealed that pokie clubs across the country have earned $88 million from pokie punters in the past year. The numbers are quite shocking, and serve as proof that AFL pokie profits are among the many reasons for equalisation measures that were introduced to even the playing field for AFL clubs.
According to a new report in the Herald Sun, the 19 venues across Victoria that are owned by AFL clubs have brought in $88 million for the teams. The most profitable club was Carlton, whose four pokie venues brought in $17.5 million. Hawthorn’s venue generated almost $11 million and its 73% stake in the West Waters Hotel raised an additional $7.6 million. Collingwood and Essendon generated about $10 million each from pokies.
Teams on the lower end of the spectrum are Richmond ($4.1 million), Western Bulldogs ($4.3 million) and St Kilda ($2.2 million). North Melbourne is the only club in the state that has refused to operate poker machines, so it has not earned any gambling revenue that can applied to its club spending.
Studies have shown that there is a correlation between club spending and on-field success. Since there is a $12 million gap between the amount of money raised from Carlton’s pokies and St Kilda’s pokies, the AFL has decided that equalisation measures were required. “What it is actually for is to compensate the smaller clubs for the structural inequities they have in their business,” says AFL head Gillon McLachlan.
The equalisation measures will put caps on how much money clubs can spend on various services that will benefit the development and performance of players.
It is hoped that the new measures will ensure fairer competition among AFL clubs across the state.
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