HAWTHORN has again topped the charts for Victorian clubs' takings from poker machines in a year where gamblers' losses exceeded $97.5 million.
New figures released on Friday show that total expenditure from 17 venues and 1306 machines controlled by nine Victorian clubs increased by more than $3m from 2016-17.
The Hawk's two venues combined for $24.3m, up from $23.3m last year, while another increase from Carlton-led machines had the Blues ranked second.
Statewide figures show a $86m total rise from last year with Victorians combining for a total loss of $2.7billion between 2017-18.
Collingwood, which revealed it would be exiting gaming as soon as October, came in behind the Hawks and Blues in third place of Victorian clubs.
It comes after Melbourne announced it was planning for a pokie-free future, firstly with the sale of its Leighoak Club in July and cutting ties with the Bentleigh Club beyond 2022.
Geelong has also flagged its intentions to sell its pokies at its Point Cook venue that rose by more than $1m in takings in the past 12 months.
AFL chairman Richard Goyder told the National Press Club in November he "hates" the association clubs have with poker machines.
"Most of the profits from poker machines come from problem gamblers, and therein lies the real problem," Goyder said.
Prior to the latest figures, North Melbourne was the only Victorian club to not profit from poker machines.
Across the rest of the competition, Brisbane has 200 machines at one venue, while Port Adelaide carries 63 machines at two venues.
Adelaide, Fremantle, Gold Coast, West Coast, Sydney and Greater Western Sydney do not profit from poker machines.
AFL CONTROLLED POKER MACHINE TAKINGS
HAWTHORN - Up from $23.3m to $24.3 (two venues)
CARLTON – Up from $17.6m to $18.4 (four venues)
COLLINGWOOD – Up from $12.2m to $13.2 (two venues)
ESSENDON – Down from $11.9m to $11.6m (two venues)
MELBOURNE – Up from $10.3m to $10.4m (two venues)
GEELONG – Up from $5.2m to $6.3m (two venues)
WESTERN BULLDOGS – Up from $5.9m to $6.1m (two venues)
RICHMOND – Down from $5.4m to $5.3m (one venue)
ST KILDA – Down from $2.11m to $2.09m (one venue)
