Premier Alex Scott this week said that he was not supportive of allowing Bermudians to gamble. The Progressive Labour Party is split over whether to change its anti-gambling policy - with at least two Cabinet Ministers warming to the idea of having a casino on the Island and a national lottery.

Mr. Scott was cautious when asked his position at the opening of the party's annual conference on Monday night.

"There will be a discussion by the Government on gaming and gambling. My position is that the party's view is always my view," he said. "The party has been reluctant if not definitely against gambling. I see the example set by the Bahamas as instructive in that they do not permit their citizens to gamble. So that is a fundamental point, I would think, even before we start discussing the overall notion of gambling... Those who have the least ability to pay will play and therefore rent money, tuition, all of these things that we must provide for our families will end up in some gaming man's pocket."

He noted that the late Tourism Minister David Allen had often said that the majority of visitors had indicated in surveys that if they wanted to gamble they would go somewhere other than Bermuda.