Attorney General's offices awaiting a Police report before further action is taken.

Officers are currently probing the way the machines work and how customers interact with them before submitting data to the Attorney General, Mr. Elliott Mottley, for a final decision.

Previously it was stated that the apparatus -- found in pubs and clubs around the Island -- were illegal but lawyers acting for proprietors claimed they were not in the breach of the law.

Yesterday, Philip Storr, legal advisor in the Attorney General's Chambers, said the initial view was that the machines were illegal, depending on the particular type.

He said the Police asked for advice, and they in turn asked the Police for certain factual information to see if they were games of chance and that there was no element of skill to it.

They were now awaiting a full report from the Police before making a final decision on whether or not they are legal.

It was a simple matter of compliance with the Lotteries Act, he said.

The investigation started after a complaint was made and the probe will involve testing machines, seeing what they do and what customers have to do.

At the time, UBP MP Gary Pitman said he was sure the machines were illegal and said he was going to look into the matter.

Lawyer Julian Hall, acting for owners and operators of the machines, said his clients had not breached any existing law in introducing the machines.

And he offered assistance to the Police investigation.