A major criticism of AFL clubs sees many residents becoming concerned about how reliant club operators are on poker machine profits. Responsible gambling advocates believe that club owners should depend on other sources of revenue, but the AFL has refused to explore other outlets.
According to the Herald Sun, AFL clubs previously announced that they would attempt to reduce their reliance on poker machine revenue by selling some of their games. Their recent actions, however, have suggested that they do not plan on following through. In 2011, AFL Head Andrew Demetriou stated that local clubs wanted to sell their games, but several venues have applied for new licenses and actually installed new games.
The only club in Victoria that does not operate pokies is North Melbourne. Since Mr Demetriou made his announcement, three clubs have added pokies to their venues. Clubs in Ringwood, Caroline Springs, Wantira and Bulleen have received new poker machines, operating on behalf of Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond.
At the moment, the Western Bulldogs are in the process of apply for new 18 new pokies, which would almost double its number of games. While community members are appalled that the club seems to be backpedalling, Bulldogs COO Robert Stubbs defends the decision:
"This application for an additional 18 EGMs is designed to provide the opportunity to further reinvest back into the community through expanded food and beverage offering and increase and improve the Peninsula Club's community outcomes within the region”. Still, local residents are not impressed.
Dr Charles Livingstone, problem gambling researcher at Monash University, states that clubs are engaging in predatory behaviour by depending on poker machine profits. He believes that it is possible for clubs to thrive without relying on pokies, but venue owners continue to cause potential harm by expand their gambling facilities.
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