The Brisbane Broncos say the players seen in a Sydney hotel on Saturday night before the 58-0 thrashing by the Eels "should have been more professional".
Six players – Corey Oates, Matt Gillett, David Fifita, Andrew McCullough, Anthony Milford and Payne Haas – entered a venue close to the team hotel in Surry Hills where several of them played the poker machines late in the evening but before midnight.
NRL.com understands coach Anthony Seibold has spoken to most of the players today about what took place and is satisfied that none of the players were drinking.
The Broncos, in a club statement on Tuesday said that "from those conversations, we understand that a small number were playing poker machines at a venue close to the team hotel".
"Others called in for a short period on their way back to the team hotel from the shops," the statement said.
Match Highlights: Eels v Broncos
"There is no suggestion the players were drinking, and our entire squad presented at a team breakfast at 7am the next morning.
"Players aren't confined to the team hotel on away trips once their team commitments including dinner, team meeting and sports massage have been completed."
The Broncos were thrashed by the Eels in the biggest loss in their history less than 24 hours after the players went out in the evening.
While the club is satisfied with the players' explanations about what took place at the venue it is not the look the club wanted to present.
"Over many years the club has placed trust in the playing group to do the right thing in regard to their pre-game preparation," the Broncos statement said.
"Given the players were about to play their biggest game of the year, they should have been more professional in their actions. The club will take this into consideration during the end of year review process currently underway."
Seibold will conduct reviews with his players on Wednesday where there are expected to be some frank discussions.
The Broncos board will also meet on Friday where the road ahead from Sunday's capitulation to the Eels will be discussed.
Broncos CEO Paul White said the club's top to bottom review would put the Broncos in a position "to make some decisions about not only next year but beyond next year".