Poker games played by hundreds of people across Bermuda have been suspended after Police raised concerns they could break gambling laws.

Officers advised competition organisers that bars hosting the increasingly popular events — which usually attract up to 50 players each — could face being raided if they continued to operate, it is understood.

Poker in Bermuda and the Bermuda Poker Tour, the groups which run the nightly contests, have claimed their activities are not illegal. However, they said they had no choice other than to postpone games following advice from Police.

Poker nights at Flanagan’s Irish Pub have been called off tonight and tomorrow, with similar events falling by the wayside later this week at venues including Bermuda Athletic Association and Bermuda Bistro At The Beach.

Angry players claim the Island is plagued by hypocrisy because a question mark hangs over poker while games played for cash such as Crown and Anchor and bingo are permitted.

A statement on Poker in Bermuda website informs players: “The poker tournaments listed on this website, and those of the Bermuda Poker Tour, have been temporarily postponed as of 27/04/07.

“Tournament organisers have been approached by the Bermuda Police Service, which has some concerns about these events.

“The parties are in discussions at the moment, working towards a resolution.”

A similar statement went up on Bermuda Poker Tour’s website last night.

A Police spokesman said last night: “Any form of gambling or gaming in Bermuda is illegal and liquor licensing premises were reminded of that and given the proper advice on how to govern themselves.”

One regular tournament player said: “Everyone is up in arms about this. Poker has been going on for a couple of years and it’s become hugely popular. What harm are we doing anybody? I don’t know why they think they have the right to stop us playing. It’s nonsense.”

Another said: “I’m totally disgusted by this Island’s double-standards when it comes to gambling and also the pious, conservative culture which makes Bermuda an extremely boring place to live at times.

“The official stance of the Government and the spirit of the Gambling Act says that gambling is morally wrong, but meanwhile you can get a licence for Crown and Anchor and bingo, which I’m led to believe is a very popular pastime among the same church groups that think of gambling in general as a sin.

“But as all poker players will tell you, there’s far more skill involved in poker than either of those two games.”

Pro-gambling campaigner Llewellyn Peniston said Government should allow poker to continue in a controlled manner as a means of generating revenue.

“We come up against moralists in our community who will express abhorrence against that sort of activity,” said Mr. Peniston.

“They are not aware of substantial numbers of Bermudians who travel to Las Vegas. If people are going to spend all that money, the opportunity is available here to make revenue by taxing through gambling. That sort of revenue is a lot less painful than compulsory taxation.”

Poker has become an increasingly popular pastime on the Island since the tournaments started being played in pubs around three years ago. Players are ranked on their performance during the tour and can clock up prizes depending on how many chips they win.

However, Police say poker nights have been violating the Liquor Licence Act 1974’s unlawful game section, and the Criminal Code Act 1907’s common gaming house section.

Poker in Bermuda’s website states members pay a registration fee and must affirm that they are “not engaged in illegal activity”.

Bermuda Poker Tour’s website states: “Gambling is illegal in Bermuda and our tournaments are for fun and entertainment only.”

Rows over Bermuda’s gambling laws have been ongoing for several years.

Crown and Anchor has long been synonymous with Cup Match, while many people take advantage of horse betting shops, bingo and private poker games.

Over the past few months, a trial has been ongoing at Magistrates’ Court regarding a casino ship, Niobe Corinthian, from which Police seized 100 gaming machines while it was moored at St. David’s. The ship’s owners claimed they has not intended to operate the machines within 12 miles of the coast of Bermuda.

Poker in Bermuda organisers were unavailable for comment yesterday, while a spokesman for Bermuda Poker Tour said discussions with Police were ongoing.