The AFL has distanced itself from a campaign by the clubs industry against the federal government's anti-gambling reforms, but won't be supporting proposed new laws.
Clubs Australia suggested the AFL would join a multi-million dollar campaign with it and the NRL to head off legislation to force problem gamblers to set a limit on their losses before playing poker machines.
But AFL chief Andrew Demetriou on Monday said his organisation would not be involved in any campaign and was happy to work with the government and independent Tasmania MP Andrew Wilkie on ways to control problem gambling.
Mr Wilkie's support for the minority Labor government hinges on laws being introduced by mid-May next year bringing in mandatory pre-commitment technology for poker machines.
"I think it's appalling that in grand final week Clubs Australia and the NRL decide to raise this issue," Mr Demetriou told reporters.
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The AFL chief said that instead of legislating, the government could work with clubs on education, counselling, research and early intervention.
Not all clubs are against the laws, with Geelong being one notable proponent of the government's plans.
Modelling by the AFL shows that clubs would lose between 20 and 40 per cent of their gaming revenue under a mandatory pre-commitment scheme.
Based on a recent study by Monash University this would amount to between $6 million and $12 million a year. Families Minister Jenny Macklin welcomed the AFL's rejection of the "scare campaign".
"The AFL have demonstrated that they agree with the government that we have a duty of care to make sure we do everything possible to support people as they deal with poker machine addiction," she said.
Ms Macklin said the government intended to put legislation through parliament before May, following talks with the NRL, AFL and other organisations and would also proceed with a trial of the technology. She rejected a suggestion by Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire that it amounted to a "footy tax".
Clubs Australia claims the cost of buying low-intensity betting machines or retro-fitting old machines would be $3 billion and send many clubs to the wall.
But Mr Wilkie says problem gamblers lose $5 billion a year on pokies.
"The cost to convert all the machines in Australia is a little more than half the amount that problem gamblers lose each year," he said.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the clubs had a right to be concerned about the policy.
"I think that these clubs are an important part of our social fabric," Mr Abbott told reporters in northeast Tasmania on Monday.
"I think that they are an important part of the great networks which support our sporting codes."
On the weekend, Mr Wilkie revealed Clubs Australia had written a letter threatening legal action over some comments he made on pokies reforms. Senator Xenophon, who is leading Mr Wilkie's legal team on a pro-bono basis, said he would be responding to the defamation threat on his behalf on Tuesday.
