Another reason why Port has to continue to be inovative to compete and one of the biggest reason driving the OnePAFC push - pokies
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/afl-behind-the-times-on-problem-gambling-20100527-wh7i.html
AFL behind the times on problem gambling
Matthew Nicholson
May 27, 2010
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The Gaming Machine Entitlement Outcomes announced on May 20 reveal that nine of the 10 Victorian-based AFL clubs have bought gaming (poker) machine licences that will run for 10 years from 2012: in the auction Carlton secured 260 machines; Collingwood 191; Essendon 190; Geelong 182; Western Bulldogs 95; Melbourne 92; St Kilda 83; Hawthorn 75; and Richmond 70. Many of these machines are located in areas of Melbourne and Victoria in which the residents experience significant socio-economic disadvantage..............
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/afl-behind-the-times-on-problem-gambling-20100527-wh7i.html
Edit follow up article 3 days later by Caro;
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/pokies-deal-sparks-afl-clubs-feud-20100512-uy3z.html
SEVERAL Melbourne-based AFL clubs are involved in a bitter feud over the spoils of a multi-million-dollar bonanza to be reaped from the state government's recent auction of poker machine licences.
The pokies auction has secured the short-term futures of several clubs after they managed to secure licences at massively discounted prices.
But the Western Bulldogs and Richmond are seething after Carlton took over some of their lucrative venues - thanks to the intervention of pokies king and former Carlton director Bruce Mathieson.
The Blues have gone from having one pokies venue to four, with at least 260 machines secured at the bargain basement price of $5500 each.
.....
The Bulldogs have finished up with 55 machines, which the club purchased at an average cost of $62,000 each.
Licences for the state's 27,500 poker machine were sold as a result of the government's decision to end the duopoly on licences previously held by Tattersall's and Tabcorp.
Hawthorn was celebrating after the silent auction, having paid the $5500 minimum for some 100 machines for which it had considered bidding as much as $110,000 each.
Melbourne's board allocated $4 million for 92 machines at the Mathieson-owned Leighoak club, but ended up paying just $370,000.
Collingwood, St Kilda and Essendon - like Melbourne - took up the option of buying licences for 40 machines before the auction, paying between $25,000 and $40,000 each, before securing the balance of their machines at auction for just $5500 each................
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/pokies-deal-sparks-afl-clubs-feud-20100512-uy3z.html