Officials are refusing to say if a betting shop owned by Opposition leader Marc Bean has had its license renewed.

The Betting License Authority met last week to hear an application by Mr Bean’s company, Axum, to renew a bookmaker’s license for the Paradise Games shop on Court Street.

But three members of the panel subsequently contacted by The Royal Gazette have all refused to say if the license was granted.

And police are also refusing to say if an investigation into alleged illegal gaming practices at the store will result in further action.

Earlier this month police confirmed that officers had made “preliminary inquiries” into the alleged illegal sale of lottery tickets at a number of betting stores across the Island.

And The Royal Gazette ran a story after investigating similar claims that Florida Lottery tickets were available at Paradise Games.

Mr Bean has since threatened this newspaper with legal action, while the Progressive Labour Party described the police investigation as politically motivated.

The Royal Gazette made several attempts to speak to Betting License Authority Chairman Archibald Warner. Mr Warner, who is also a Senior Magistrate, declined to comment. Another two members of the panel, lawyers Michael Smith and Elizabeth Christopher, also declined to reveal the panel’s ruling.