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  • 3 months ago
More than $110 million was lost to pokie machines in venues owned by Victorian football clubs and leagues — from AFL down to local level — in 2024/25. The figure has prompted condemnation from gambling harm advocates, who say it is "hypocrisy" for football clubs to be cornerstones of their communities, while profiting from gambling harm.

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00:00If you ask Bree Hughes how much she's lost to poker machines, she doesn't respond in terms of dollars.
00:1015 years of my life.
00:13That includes almost a year spent in jail for fraud.
00:17Now an advocate, Bree is on a mission to help others experiencing gambling harm.
00:21I think that it's an intentional harm that was caused.
00:25I see it as completely predatory.
00:28VFL Club Werribee Tigers owns a Pokies venue Bree regularly attended.
00:35These clubs, they are meant to be about the community.
00:39How you can in one hand try to mould these children and in the other have these very addictive, intentionally addictive product that is literally killing people, it's unethical.
00:56Werribee is just one of 16 Victorian clubs or leagues profiting from poker machines.
01:03All up, these venues collected $110 million in player losses last financial year.
01:08Four AFL clubs took $40 million, led by Carlton, Essendon, Richmond and St Kilda.
01:16Three VFL clubs raked in $35 million, dominated by Werribee, way ahead of Williamstown and Port Melbourne.
01:24And nine local clubs and leagues around Victoria are also getting in on the action, collecting millions.
01:31It's completely hypocritical for them to have Pokies machines that are doing such damage and claim that they are a community actor for good in their local municipality.
01:44While six AFL clubs have divested from Pokies since North Melbourne led the way in 2008, gambling reform advocates say it's time for all football clubs, from AFL to local leagues, to follow suit.
01:59We can't be a community champion and have Pokies.
02:04Clubs all should divest.
02:06The ABC contacted all clubs in this story.
02:09None would go on record.
02:11But while some of the larger clubs are considering their futures with Pokies, some smaller clubs have said, without the machines, they would have to fold.
02:19Harrison Tippett, ABC News.
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