Poker came to Bermuda this week with big prizes but no broken laws.

Front Street bar Flanagan's organised the event in which $10,000 worth of vouchers were handed out as prizes in a tournament that raised cash for charity and was played with chips having only a nominal value to satisfy legal demands.

Manager San Bezant said he was happy he made all the comprehensive checks required to safely run the event, in which 60 players paid $230 for an opportunity to win big prizes in the eight-hour card tournament.

And lawyer Mark Pettingill believes nothing was illegal about the enterprise, which is set to be repeated over ten weeks starting on October 21 at the bar.

"Paying an entry fee for a game of skill with vouchers or gift certificates as prizes is not against the law," Mr. Pettingill told The Royal Gazette.

"The criminal code is only infringed when cash is used and a gaming house keeps a bank. This is clearly not the case here, there doesn't appear to be anything wrong in law with this event."

He said the poker event was, in essence, no different from a golf tournament with an entry fee and voucher prizes.

It is understood Police were aware of the tournament.

New Mayor of Hamilton Lawson Mapp said he hadn't heard about the poker tournament and couldn't comment on its legality but said that he was not against gambling in principle.

Messy legal rows dominated the headlines late last year after gambling machines were confiscated by Police and Customs in a series of raids on bars and gambling haunts.

But the Supreme Court then ruled that the premises were entitled to damages after the confiscations were ruled unlawful.