It's more the pretense that Essendon wouldn't be able to survive without pokies, whilst North would be completely insolvent without one of the highest distributions from the AFL, despite likely contributing the least to the current financial standing of the game.Given the fact they are the only Vic club that has never owned or profited off Pokies revenue, North fans have every right to claim the moral high ground here.
Then they'll point to them being in the 'black', which is entirely due to the AFL and through no means of their own.
At least St Kilda supporters don't attempt to take the moral high-ground over other clubs.