AME Church pastor the Rev. Leonard Santucci fears liberalising gambling could encourage other vices such as prostitution, drugs and alcohol.

However Tourism Minister Minister Renee Webb, who is advocating high class gambling for visitors, said Bermuda needed to get wise to what tourists wanted.

She said: "We have to decide if we want to be in the tourism business. If that's what the tourist wants, then that's what you give them.

"We know tourism is slowly dying on the vine.

"We have to make a dramatic change."

Rev. Santucci said meetings would probably be held in response to Government's debate about relaxing the laws on gaming for tourists.

Most right thinking people would be against liberalising gaming laws, said Rev. Santucci, but he conceded bingo was part of the fabric of the Bermudian community.

"What we are talking about is extending gambling and making it a key component of the economy."

He said economies based on gambling suffered other related ills.

"They are beset with a whole host of social problems including drugs, alcohol and prostitution.

"From a religious point of view we would be concerned, it would tear at the fabric of our society.

"I think it would be something my colleagues would be in discussions about with the focus on the impact on the community.

"I think most of us would argue we have enough vices to address now."

His views were echoed by former Tourism Minister DeForest Trimingham who said widespread gambling operation would change the whole character of the island and open the door for the Mafia.

He said: "I can't put a finger on any island in the Caribbean that's been saved by having gambling."

He said he had been influenced by a TV expose on gambling in Atlantic City which showed how far the Mafia had infiltrated the worlds of gaming and politics.

PLP activist Rolfe Commissiong said Bermuda should adopt the Bahamas model of introducing gambling for tourists but banning it for locals.

He said: "We are only doing it out of necessity to keep up with the competition."

Ms Webb said gambling should be viewed in terms of entertainment but she did not advocate turning Bermuda into another Vegas.

A lot of money was going out of the economy with Bermudians betting on line, said the Minister.

"We are an upscale destination so you would want upscale gaming similar to Monte Carlo, a high class type of scenario.

"You could not do anything which didn't fit in.

"We know all our competitors do it. It is something Bermuda has to look at. Bermudians go to other destinations and gamble.

"You have to look at the social and economic impact of tourism, looking at enhancing yourself as a destination by having some sort of nightlife."

The ruling Progressive Labour Party is consulting members on their views about gambling but Ms Webb is against Sir John Swan's idea of putting it to the people directly.

She said: "I think referendum is overkill, but I definitely think there should be wider discussions about it.

"At the end of the day Government will make its decision."

Rev. Santucci, who was speaking in his religious capacity rather than his other role as a United Bermuda Party senator, is against the idea of one law for tourists and another for locals.

He said: "To me it's a form of prejudice or segregation which to me is ludicrous."

However, Rev. Santucci said gambling was not the answer to the problems of the tourism industry.

"We used to have a thriving tourist industry without gambling and I believe it's possible to have a thriving tourist industry again."

The downturn had started when Bermudians gave up on the tourism business and the product became less culturally unique, he said.