A Police gambling probe has ended in Government taking Freeport Gardens Bingo organiser Mr. Neil Inchcup and VSB television to court.

The Attorney General took out a Supreme Court writ on Monday naming Mr.

Inchcup and DeFontes Broadcasting Television Ltd. as the defendants.

Neither VSB boss Mr. Kenny DeFontes nor Freeport lawyer Mr. Richard Hector knew of the legal action when contacted yesterday.

"It's the first I've heard about it,'' Mr. DeFontes said.

Mr. Hector added, "It's not been served on us yet.'' Mr. Inchcup could not be reached.

The Police investigation was launched this summer after public promotion of Freeport Gardens Bingo at Mr. Inchcup's Dockyard premises and his staging of TV Home Bingo with DeFontes at VSB's studios.

It was believed there could be breaches of Bermuda's laws against gambling and lotteries. At the time, acting Attorney General Mr. Barrie Meade said, "Our position is if evidence comes to light that offences against the Lotteries Act are being committed, I will consider whether or not to institute legal proceedings.'' Mr. DeFontes has defended his company's decision to air TV Home Bingo, saying, "We would certainly never get involved in anything which was illegal.'' Mr. Hector contended confusion reigned over the legality of the popular game.

He pointed out it was being played Island-wide.

Bingo is apparently legal at community and sports clubs to help support their activities. ZBM TV jumped on the bingo bandwagon in the fall by televising the weekly bingo played at Southampton Rangers.

The Royal Gazette's lawyer Mr. Kieron Unwin, declaring bingo an "unlawful lottery'', advised against accepting advertisements for Freeport Bingo and TV Bingo.