The introduction of casinos could help Bermuda shake off its image as an “unexciting” tourism destination, according to Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell.

Describing Government plans to legalise gaming as a “gargantuan” step that would redefine Bermuda, Mr Crockwell said casinos would enable the Island to rebrand and reposition itself in the tourism market.

But the Minister played down any concerns that the Island could one day resemble the Las Vegas strip, saying that Bermuda’s size meant that a maximum of just three casinos — integrated into either new or existing hotels — were financially sustainable.

Speaking on ZBM’s Let’s Talk’ programme last night, Mr Crockwell pointed out that Singapore had transformed its image as a tourism destination after introducing gaming five years ago. The Minister and Attorney General Mark Pettingill spent a week on a fact-finding mission in the Far East city state last month.

“Right now people see Bermuda as an unexciting place — we need to change that,” Mr Crockwell said.

“Singapore had a greater resistance to gaming then we do here. They struggle at around 50/50 and they have for quite some time. Their government said they need to do it and they have doubled their tourism in the last five years. They have raised so much revenue that they’ve built all sorts of wonderful amenities for Singaporians like an opera house and other entertainment that has been paid for from the gaming.

“Again we are on a whole different scale but the point is they have rebranded themselves as an exciting jurisdiction.”

The Minister said that just three casino licences would be issued initially, with at least one of those going to a new hotel development.

“The financial data that we have received suggests that, based on the current tourism numbers that we have and the resident population — and its estimated that between ten and 15 percent of the resident population will participate — we can sustain financially three casinos,” he said.

“The Government is committed to reserving the first licence to new development and these things are a moving target — it all depends on what a prospective developer or existing owner may put on the table. But we want to preserve that for new development. I, personally speaking, not on behalf of Cabinet but as the Minister, I don’t see more than two but who knows — if tourism grows, if we bring in an additional 100,000 tourists, we will consider it at that point.”

According to Mr Crockwell, around 50,000 New Yorkers travel to the Bahamas each year to gamble, while other US East Coast cities report similar data.

“We can go after some of that,” Mr Crockwell said.

“You have people right next to us who are travelling to the Bahamas and travelling to Las Vegas just to game. It would be great if we can provide an option for them to come to Bermuda.”

Government is to reveal more on plans to introduce casinos to the Island, at a series of public meetings starting tonight.

The first town hall meeting will be held today from 6pm to 8pm at Penno’s Wharf in St George’s.

Another discussion of “integrated casino resort gaming in Bermuda” will be held at the same time on Thursday, at the lower level of Pier 6 in Hamilton.

More will follow on February 13, at St James Church Hall in Sandys, and on February 18 at Hamilton’s Docksider Pub and Restaurant.

Mr Crockwell said: “I encourage anyone with any questions or concerns about gaming in Bermuda to attend one of these meetings so that they can learn more about what the Government proposes and how the introduction of integrated casino resorts in Bermuda will provide opportunities and jobs for Bermudians.”

According to a Ministry spokesman, two further town hall meetings are planned: one devoted to “mitigating social risks”, and another to focus on economic and job opportunities.

A website providing details on the model of gaming proposed for the Island will also go live this week at www.gamingawareness.bm.