Pokies venues owned by AFL clubs claim renovations and pay tv subscriptions as ‘community benefit’

Venues owned by four clubs legally claimed a total of $8.6m in operating costs under Victorian scheme

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Poker machine venues owned by AFL clubs have been spending millions of dollars in revenue on themselves – from kitchen renovations to Foxtel subscriptions – while claiming the costs as a community benefit to lower their tax bill.

Eight venues, owned by Carlton, Essendon, Richmond and St Kilda, collectively spent $8.6m on operating costs last year, legally claiming it under the state’s community benefits scheme.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup