Crowe vs Poker Machines

Hollywood has always had the activist crowd, now they are spreading abroad. Australian actor Russell Crowe has been reportedly speaking out against the South Sydney Leagues Club, claiming they should remove the 160 video poker slots machines currently run at the establishment. Business partner Peter Holmes and Crowe have approached the local courts to ask the Leagues Club Board Members consider the option of reopening in 2008 without machines.

According to the information Crowe has received, rugby league clubs are generating a significant amount of their required revenues though the use of the video poker machines. A Club CEO David Costello has gone on record saying that up to 80% of the revenue at some sports clubs come from the poker machines located in their establishments. Crowe and Holmes would like to see the rugby leagues end their dependence on these machines.

In addition to the movement, Russel Crowe has clarified that his proposal to end the rugby dependence on poker machines is not based on his personal views regarding gambling. The idea was suggested widely supported byt the sponsors of the Rabbitohs team, owned by Crowe and Holmes a Court. Tim Costello a well known gambling opponent, also supported the proposal and described it as very courageous (US Poker Games).