Four in ten people would like to see new forms of gambling legalised according to a poll — prompting fresh calls from those pushing for law changes.

Campaigners Llewellyn Peniston and Tony Brannon both speculated that new Premier Ewart Brown might look relax the ban on slot machines and casinos. “We need to get on and do it and provide some excitement and turn this dull and boring five-month-season place into somewhere that rocks all year round,” said Mr. Brannon last night.

“I think the Premier is going to take us down that road, and should take us down that road.”

Dr. Brown told The Royal Gazette he was looking with interest at other jurisdictions such as Singapore that have relaxed their anti-gaming laws.

The poll, by Research.bm, asked 400 people whether gambling should be legalised in Bermuda — although it did not specify what type.

A total of 54 percent answered no, with 40 percent saying yes, and six percent undecided.

Lawyer Mr. Peniston accused the Government under former Premier Alex Scott of “double standards” and “hypocrisy” in permitting games such as Crown and Anchor and bingo to be played for cash while maintaining an anti-gambling stance.

Reacting to the news that a narrow majority are happy with the laws as they stand, Mr. Peniston said gambling could provide Government with revenue through taxation to be used for social programmes. “I was astonished by the percentage in the poll showing disfavour with changing the legislation. I think the true story would be told if Bermuda is ever able to get its arms around the true number of people who gamble and the amount spent overseas to gamble which is completely lost to the economy,” he said.

And he added: “While morally I do not personally indulge in gambling, I do not feel that I have a licence to impose my own standard on others whose persuasion is to the contrary. I believe that the Bermudian people should have a choice as to whether they decide to gamble or not.”

Suggesting that Dr. Brown might be more favourable to relaxing the Government’s anti-gambling stance, he said: “My instinctive impression of this Government is they are more open to perhaps embrace a more liberal approach to at least considering these options.”

Entertainer and tourism campaigner Tony Brannon said: “I think we have come to the point in tourism where we have to do it. I think hotels need to be put on a level playing field as the cruise ships — not that they are allowed to have gambling in port. The bottom line is people are getting on the ships and having all this fun. What we have to do is not namby-pamby with the issue and all the hotels should be able to qualify for gaming licences of different classes.”

In a statement, Dr. Brown said his stance on gaming was the same as his Government’s — that it is illegal.

But he added: “It is interesting to note that other jurisdictions, including Singapore, have altered their stance on gaming.”

That republic approved a controversial plan to legalise casino gambling last year. However, Dr. Brown declined to elaborate further on his statement.

Leader of the Opposition Wayne Furbert said he was not surprised by the poll showing a majority against relaxing the gambling laws. “The majority of Bermudians have long been opposed to legalising gambling. In tourism we have to focus on the basics — providing a better physical and human product that gives our visitors good value for the money they spend,” he said.

Lee Beauchamp, general manager of Sea Horses betting shop in Queen Street, Hamilton — which allows punters to gamble on horse racing and other international sporting events — said it is time for laws dating back to the pre-internet gambling era to be updated in order to boost local revenue.

“The legislation is old-fashioned and written in a totally different era. It needs to be completely overhauled to deal with modern issues such as the internet. We have people coming into Sea Horses and we have to charge them 20 percent tax but they can just as easily place a bet on the internet and the money goes out of Bermuda,” he said.

And he added that the rules on poker-playing ought to be clarified. “It’s ridiculous that you can play poker in bars which are unlicensed for gambling while consuming alcohol all over the Island. There’s a poker tournament on every night but licensed premises like Sea Horses which pays for its licence and pays tax to the Government is not allowed to have a poker night because we do not have a liquor licence. I believe this is a grey legal area,” he said.