Crowe wins bid to ban poker machines

Russell Crowe has won a bid to ban poker machines from the Australian rugby club in Sydney that he bought last year.

The actor purchased Redfern club with his business partner Peter Holmes a Court as well as a 75 per cent stake in the National Rugby League team for £1.1 million.

They both decided they wanted to get rid of the 60 'pokie' machines at Redfern, even though they take around £850,000 per year in revenue.

Crowe and Holmes a Court won the right to get rid of the machines in a vote on Thursday and the pair hope to increase takings elsewhere by attracting more numbers to the club.

In a letter the pair said: "We are not moralising here, we just believe that low-income areas like Redfern need less poker machines rather than more.

"We believe a club can be successful if it caters for our members and the broad community; is a place where families can gather for conversation and good food; and the distracting din of pokies doesn't stop the conversation or drown out live music."