Carlton rakes in almost $20 million from poker machines Carlton is reaping the benefits of 290 poker machines. CARLTON more than doubled its gaming-related revenue in 2013 to $19.7 million, the club's annual report reveals. The jump in revenue - up from $9.5 million in 2012 - did not result in a large profit for the Blues this year, in part because of short-term costs associated with the club's increased investment in gaming. The report notes that "member venue costs" jumped from $7.5 million to $17 million as the club recorded a $528,000 profit for the year ending October 31. Gaming machine entitlements for 290 machines came into effect in August 2012, and the club will make payments on those entitlements over the next four years. However, the entitlements do not expire until 2022 and it is expected Carlton will maximise its financial return from pokies in the final five years of the machines' 10-year lifespan. Victorian AFL clubs own 18 gaming venues and 1317 machines, with North Melbourne the only club in the state not to make money out of gaming. Carlton's $19.7 million in gaming revenue this year represents more than a third of its total revenue of $57 million. According to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, poker machines owned by AFL clubs empty more than $85 million annually from the pockets of punters. In February, the Western Bulldogs - who own 50 machines - floated in a discussion paper on equalisation the prospect of gaming revenue above a certain amount being split between clubs. "The growth in scale of and dependency on poker machine revenue in AFL clubs, and growing revenue differentials between larger and smaller Victorian franchises in this area, have been to the detriment of the competition," the Bulldogs said. A system in which poker machine profits over a proportion of gross club revenue were contributed to a common pool for equitable distribution would be a preferable model of a 'luxury tax' and might have the additional benefit of reducing the incentive of clubs to increase their own dependence and their fans' exposure to poker machine use.