Football clubs that make millions from poker machines are being targeted by anti-gambling vigilantes trying to highlight the damage pokies do to families.

Protests at AFL club-owned venues will begin on Saturday with campaigners to target Carlton-owned venues first, urging them to at the very least erect screens so children who are dining at the bistro in the clubs cannot see the poker machines.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform protesters are aiming to show that while the AFL and its clubs preach to be family-friendly, they are hurting families by profiting from poker machines.

Last financial year punters lost more than $17 million at Carlton's four pokies venues: the Victoria Inn in Williamstown, Club Laverton in Laverton, The Manningham Club in Bulleen and the Royal Oak on Bridge Road in Richmond.

"Carlton should focus on playing footy, not playing our kids," campaigner and public health advocate Susan Rennie said.

"AFL clubs should stop grooming our children to be the gamblers of the future"

The group will run sit-in protests across Victoria, starting this weekend, by occupying machines and paying the minimum bet before spreading their message to patrons.

A Carlton spokesperson said the club currently complied with legislated requirements at all its club venues.

"We are also currently reviewing our operations in this area," she said.

Legal advice was sought before the alliance embarked on the action to avoid arrest or eviction.

"The AFL needs to stop destroying families and childhoods, just so they can pay their rich star players more money," Ms Rennie said.

"The AFL needs to get out of this addictive business, or stop pretending to be family-friendly.

"They can't do both."

North Melbourne is the only Victorian club without poker machines.

Punters lost more than $22 million at triple-premier Hawthorn's venues, with punters losing more than $12 million at Essendon, $10 million with Collingwood and $9 million with Melbourne.

Researchers say there is a link between future problem gambling and children being exposed to pokies on family visits to pubs and clubs for meals.

They say exposure to pokies as "normal" entertainment can create problem gamblers later in life.

A recent study found that the promotion venues with pokies as "family-friendly" places "may increase the risk of gambling harm … particularly among adults who are exposed to gambling venues as children".

Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation chief executive Serge Sardo said it did not want children exposed to gambling because it can desensitise them to gambling.

"Kids should not be exposed to gambling from a young age," Mr Sardo said.

"So when parents take their kids out for a Friday night family meal, we want to preserve that activity by not exposing them to the gambling going on in the next room."

The AFL declined to comment.

With Benjamin Preiss