One week into the ban on gaming machines, some former operators have not removed the machines from their premises.

But that fact may be misleading ? some machines are in demo mode and still providing hours of entertainment for punters.

Some operators reported this week that they were providing alternatives for their customers following the death of the golden goose.

And in at least one case, patrons can be found enjoying their regular after-work past-time ? except no money is inserted into the machines and there?s no payoff.

?The spirit is willing but the cash is weak,? said one customer at The Palace, a Reid Street establishment.

There were less than half a dozen customers at the machines early Wednesday evening ? a fraction of the numbers before the ban.

One ?gambler? decried the ban as encroaching on his personal rights to spend his money as he pleased, but recognised that the short lived gaming industry had been responsible for a number of personal tragedies.

But he said he spent just as much time on the machines today as he did before the ban.

?It?s fun and relaxation,? the man said.

And he agreed with another patron?s observation that the chances of a pay-out on the electronic machines had improved considerably now that there was no actual pay-out.

?You can?t play poker, but all the lottery machines are on,? said John Pearman, operator of The Palace, whose motto is ?you can always bet on us?.

The gaming machine ban stipulates that

Putting the machines on ?demo mode? meant that the gaming ban was not being violated, he said.

When the players want to play they do not put any money into the game, and simply touch the screen to play.

All the prizes are there, but if they choose to cash in, a ticket is printed but it is not valid.

?They are playing for fun,? he said.

But there is another draw for The Palace?s remaining die hard clientele ? an atmosphere far removed from rowdy bars full of ?young punks?, since most of the punters are in their 30s or middle aged, explained one patron.

Mr. Pearman complained that the ban has hurt small businesses on the Island.

?I know big business gaming and this is not big business gaming,? he said.

?I?ve worked in Vegas. What I know is some people go to Vegas once in their life. Some once a year for a convention for example. Then there are the die-hards who go there once every three or six months. They have infinite amounts of money. Bermudians are afraid to lose money. They learn quickly it does not pay but they put their money in anyway.?

?Before these machines came here I used to go to Vegas,? said one Palace customer.

?As a local player on my own Island, it?s more comfortable.?

At the Beach bar on Front Street, the former ?casino room? was being turned into the champagne room this week, reported manager Steven Greig.

?Everything has been taken out,? Mr. Greig said.

?We are turning that room into a private room and are going to have a buffet night there every Wednesday for harbour nights,? he said.

At Plush on Parliament Street, the machines had not been taken out. A woman at the premises who called the shop her ?office? was less than co-operative when stopped by for a visit.

She said the machines were her property, and she was not going to get rid of them, adding that she had not been fined because she was not using the machines.

?We are closed,? she said.