That is the view of Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge who said legalised gambling would do little to improve the Island's economy while de-moralising the community.

He made the statement after a leading businessman this week added his voice to the growing number of supporters of casinos.

Mr. Woolridge said it would increase crime, "demoralise'' the community, and generally lead to a downfall of the Island's economy.

Mr. Roger Davidson called for a casino this week during a Commission on Competitiveness forum. The Government Commission is charged with developing a "strategic plan'' for the tourism industry for the 1990s and beyond.

Mr. Davidson, vice president of H.A. & E. Smith, threw his support behind gambling, saying Government should take "a hard look'' at legalising the activity to increase tourism and raise revenue.

"We have got to recognise our customers have changed and if we are going to continue to attract them we have to have gambling,'' he said. "They (Americans) are subjected to gambling or lotteries in nearly every state. And gambling is a way of life on cruise ships and other tourist resorts.'' Mr. Davidson, who is also chairman of Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd., which owns The Royal Gazette , said Government should at least examine the idea so an "informed decision'' could be made on whether or not to legalise gambling.

"It is clear the present position was taken without any examination of (gambling) and its impact on Bermuda,'' he said.

Mr. Woolridge said: "From the point of view of the Tourism Minister who knows the market, I'm not interested in gambling for Bermuda.

"We don't need to demoralise the community for the sake of a dollar. The state of the economies in the islands to the south of us which have gambling have not improved one bit since they allowed it.'' Mr. Davidson said: "Visitors are accustomed to casinos and topless bathing, though I'm not saying I want to see Elbow Beach a topless beach... Government must take a very hard look at gambling as a major source of revenue,'' he said.

"Where in the world could you find a bigger set of hypocrites than you could on this Island?'' he asked. "We shy away at any suggestion that we might engage in gambling here, or any of the other sins that quite frankly 99 percent of Bermudians engage in on a regular basis when we travel, and 99 percent of our clients do when they travel.''