In an attempt to help Sydney citizens to be less dependent on gambling, actor Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court tried to persuade the South Sydney Leagues Club to remove their poker machines from their clubs. Apparently their influence had some weight to it because according to the Daily Telegraph the board approved the decision to remove the machines as of last night.
The board voted 4-3 in favor of having a poker machine-free club. The club will be the first licensed venue in NSW to voluntarily remove their poker machines. The only way this will not happen is if a legal challenge is made at the last minute. It is believed that the board members who disagreed will try one last attempt to challenge the decision.
Russell Crowe and Mr. Holmes a Court purchased the club in 2006 for $3 million. They went to the board last night with an ultimatum. The board members had refused to vote last Thursday and the two men wanted them to get on with it. "We put our best offer forward," Mr. Holmes a Court said. "We feel we had a productive meeting but the independent board of the leagues club put the proposal under a lot of scrutiny. We pushed for a decision because we need to move on and get the club built."
The decision should be officially announced today and if the proposal is approved then the Club will still have a license on their poker machines.



- 2007-12-19