Gladiator Against the Machines
3rd January, 2008
Russell Crowe, the Oscar-winning Australian actor, who became extremely famous for his role in Gladiator is now focusing on fighting the public addiction to gambling machines.
As an actor with a great number of dedicated fans, he is doing a great deal of good for the pokies’ oppositions. He has become a role figure for those who feel that the ringing, flashing game consoles are harming the welfare of the nation.
The machines are making a very attractive profit margins for clubs and pubs that have them in place, with up to $10 billion p.a.
There are in total more than 200,000 machines, which is 21% of the world's total, in Australia today. Welfare agencies were devastated when they found out that up to 300,000 people are feeding those machines on their gaming addictions.
Russell Crowe has already managed to contribute towards fighting the “evil” machines by convincing the board of his Sydney football club last month to dump scores of machines raking in $1 million a year.
Crowe's club co-owner, millionaire businessman Peter Holmes a Court, had this to say about Crowe’s actions: "Russell threw down the gauntlet and said 'Can we do this?' We put a proposal for a family-friendly club, an inclusive club."
