few claps, but not a wholehearted round of applause.

That is because Bermuda's policy on gambling remains unclear and needs to be clarified.

The ban on the gaming machines is a good first step. It makes clear that Government is opposed to the machines and wants them gone. At the same time, it allows the existing machines to remain, which is fair to the operators who were allowed to bring them in in the first place.

It is a much better policy than the previous attempt to ban the importation of the machines, but to allow the existing machines to run until they were irreparably broken -- as if that was ever going to happen.

It has been suggested that by extending the operating deadline until 2004, it gives a government plenty of time to drop the ban. However, the same could be said of any newly enacted law.

Nonetheless, one law does not a policy make. And neither the Government nor the Opposition appear to have a set policy on gambling, which can include everything from bingo to slot machines to high stakes poker to betting on sports.

Then there is the 800 pound gorilla -- casino gambling.

Bermuda already has one operation in Smith's Parish which is, to all intents and purposes, a casino. But the authorities appear to be powerless to do anything about it.

This newspaper remains opposed to casino gambling because it has yet to see compelling evidence that casinos do anything to materially help people in the community while the social costs of casino gambling can be very clearly quantified. Bermuda has enough addicts already -- why enable another group to easily get their "fixes'' and become a burden on the rest of society? Still, the growth of the Internet and the ease with which people can gamble either over the phone or by flying to Atlantic City, Connecticut or Las Vegas means that the Island already has plenty of gambling going on. Bermuda now gets all of the after effects and none of the benefits, such as they are.

And certainly Bermuda residents appear to have very little compunction about getting involved in these games and schemes, in spite of the crystal clear evidence that the house always wins in the end.

For that reason, this newspaper does support a local lottery which would be regulated by the Government and carefully managed.

If Bermuda did have a lottery, it could follow the UK model whereby the profits are distributed to worthy local causes.

Sports such as football and cricket could benefit, as could the Island's burgeoning arts scene. Charities which save the taxpayer money by providing vital social services could also benefit.

In that way, Bermudians would gain from the proceeds of gambling at the same time that they are able to quench their thirst for having a flutter by playing a game of chance.