George Clooney gambles for Haiti

Feb 3, 2010, 10:26 GMT

George Clooney wants to win the lottery for Haiti.

The 48-year-old actor and girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis were spotted in an official Italian Superenalotto game shop, where they reportedly splashed out hundreds of pounds on tickets in a bid to win a huge £117 million jackpot, in the hope he can raise money for the earthquake-stricken Caribbean nation.

George, who has a home in Italy's Lake Como, is quoted as telling pals: "The jackpot is so high, so why not try?"

The 'Up in the Air' star has been active in raising money for victims of the disaster-stricken nation, and recently fronted a telethon in the US which raised more than $50 million for Haiti.

Speaking at the event, George said: "This is a tragedy that reaches across all borders, all boundaries.

"It demands our attention, our help and our compassion. The Haitian people need help. They need to know that they are not alone. They need to see that we still care."

A large number of other celebrities took part in the money-raising efforts, including Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and Penelope Cruz.