Entrepreneurs put out of business when gaming machines were banned last night urged Government not to freeze them out if casinos become legal.

Speaking at a public forum on plans to relax Bermuda's anti-gambling legislation, owners of former gambling clubs complained the move to outlaw the Island's 300-plus gaming machines in 2004 had ruined their livelihoods.

And they fear if gaming becomes fair game — following a nearly-completed feasibility study by New Orleans-based The Innovation Group — the big winners will be major hotels who can set up casinos to pull in extra tourists.

Lawyer Wendell Hollis, who heads the Bermuda gaming task force which will assess The Innovation Group's report, insisted all options remain on the table at this stage — including casinos and gaming clubs.

Last night's meeting at Sandys Secondary School, the first of three forums this week, was attended by about 30 people who gave mixed views on the controversial subject.

Judy Ming, whose Plush gaming house on Parliament Street shut after then-Premier Alex Scott pushed through anti-gambling legislation five years ago, was in the audience.

She told the forum: "This Government took the people who started the gaming out of business, and now you want to bring it back.

"Saying gaming was immoral, having people lose their homes, houses and whatever. I just feel that it was a personal decision to get the people already in gaming out of gaming once they saw how much money was being generated.

"When they made gaming illegal in Bermuda they literally took the livelihood from people. We were entrepreneurs making business. People were sitting quietly playing their machines and that was it.

"Now that all of a sudden you want to bring it back to Bermuda, you totally disregard the entrepreneurs.

"This crap about it being immoral — you can't take away one form of gambling and not another. The only reason why the gaming was taken away from the people who were already in the industry is because we weren't greasing the palms."

Warning that foreigners stood to profit from building new casinos, Ms Ming added: "If we are going to have gaming on this Island you need to open it up to Bermudians. You couldn't possibly bring gaming back and not include the people in the gaming industry."

Mr. Hollis accused Ms Ming of having a preconceived idea of what the study was about and said: "We are including what you used to do as part of our study as much as we are looking at casinos. My mind is still open. We are swayed by what you say tonight."

Another woman who said she introduced gaming machines in 1996 told the forum people like herself should have been included on the task force.

She said she had the experience of dealing with Bermudians and non-Bermudians over gaming, and asked: "Why weren't the people that were involved that started it, that did it for years, not invited to be a part of the task force?"

Mr. Hollis replied that the task force was selected by a "higher authority". Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown appointed the group, which includes hoteliers, lawyers and other members of the community.

Former United Bermuda Party MP Maxwell Burgess also spoke in support of former gaming house operators, whom he said had removed some of the taboo from gambling.

"They took it on. I believe now all of us benefit from it," said Mr. Burgess.

The politician asked people opposing gaming on moral grounds to allow others to make their own choices, and said gaming could encourage more tourists.

Cambridge Beaches president Mike Winfield said gambling would put another arrow in the tourism industry's quiver.

But Mr. Winfield spoke against Front Street becoming like Las Vegas, adding: "What I don't want to see is the fabric of Bermuda changed by the legislation of gambling."

One 73-year-old former teacher warned against the perils of gambling addiction, saying she had seen families unable to look after their children properly in years gone by.

"If all of you want to have it, you may have it. But I'm not just going to sit back," she said. "Have any of you had experience of living with a gambler? Someone who was a breadwinner but didn't have the bread?"

Since the feasibility study was announced last October, it has received support from hoteliers and been described as a potential silver bullet to save the struggling tourism industry.

However, church groups including the AME, Seventh-day Adventist and Muslims have all spoken out on religious or moral grounds, while a bill to allow gambling on cruise ships was last month blocked following opposition from a number of Government MPs.

Tonight's forum takes place at Bermuda Industrial Union Hall, Hamilton, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and tomorrow's is at the World Heritage Centre, Penno's Wharf, St. George's, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

After the meetings, The Innovation Group will spend two to three weeks completing its draft and presenting it to the task force, which will in turn make recommendations to Cabinet.

The Innovation Group's $300,000 study is jointly funded by Government and hoteliers. As well as the potential impact of casinos and gaming clubs, it will weigh Bermuda's suitability as a centre of Internet gaming, which would mean people overseas having their online bets processed on the Island; and the pros and cons of a national lottery.

It will also include the latest research on any social problems connected to gambling.

• The Innovation Group is inviting residents to give their views on casinos, national lotteries, social issues and responsibilities connected to gambling on www.blogbermudagaming.com, or by written submission to Task Force on Gaming, P.O. Box HM 465, Hamilton HM BX. Closing date for written submissions is Friday.