Five Victorian AFL clubs are set to continue taking millions of dollars from pokies after the state government announced the recipients of new 20-year licenses for gaming machines, despite four rival Victorian clubs recently committing to sell their pokies.

Carlton, Hawthorn, Essendon, Richmond and St Kilda have been handed 20 year licenses - beginning in 2022 and running to 2042 - to continue operating pokies at venues around Melbourne following an application process that began in October 2017.

Five Victorian AFL clubs are staying in the pokies while four have said they will no longer take pokies revenue. Credit:Peter Braig

Collingwood, Geelong, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will sell their pokies and with that surrender millions in guaranteed yearly revenue, while North Melbourne have long been pokies-free.

AFL clubs keeping pokies were handed licences to operate the same amount of machines they currently own with Carlton (290 machines) the most followed by Essendon (190), Hawthorn (165), Richmond (97) and St Kilda (83).