Government has closed the door on casinos coming to Bermuda and will not have further discussions about it in the near future, it was confirmed yesterday.

Attorney General Sen. Larry Mussenden told Senate yesterday: ?We have no intention to entertain or propose any new forms of gambling into Bermuda at this time.?

Afterwards, he confirmed to it was Government policy not to have a debate on casinos.

?At this point Government?s position is that there is no debate that we see coming up on that (casinos),? he said.

Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, which supports exploring whether the Island needs casinos, said it was disappointed the idea had been cast aside without even a debate.

And the move contradicts statements from the Progressive Labour Party?s official spokesman Scott Simmons who said in April that the party wanted full public discussions on the pros and cons of casinos.

Mr. Mussenden?s statements came on the day the Senate passed legislation banning gaming machines from today and spelling out the fines and prison sentences for those who flout the law.

He echoed statements from Premier Alex Scott that a casino would require too many foreign workers and would put an unnecessary strain on the Island?s infrastructure.

Mr. Mussenden said: ?We are not convinced there is strong support for gaming machines, casinos or lotteries in the community.

?Based on what we are hearing from our constituents and in recent polls, the majority of people want to keep gambling out of Bermuda.?

The Chamber of Commerce invited a Canadian expert on casinos to the Island earlier this year who predicted Bermuda would have casinos within five years.

Chamber president Charles Gosling told yesterday: ?I just feel it is a shame that it is being put to one side without proper exploration.

?While the Chamber had a neutral position, it was an active enough position to say we have a number of different organisations and individuals that are making the call for casinos so let?s at least have a proper, educated look at this avenue prior to pushing it to one side.

?There are increasing demands that tourists have in terms of destinations and it is questionable whether Bermuda is supplying the product that the modern traveller requires. It?s a little bit disappointing that it is abruptly cut without a proper investigation.?

In April, PLP spokesman Mr. Simmons said: ?The party?s position now is let?s talk.

?Let?s have a substantive discussion on gaming and let?s make sure we look at it. Our Government will bring it to the people and let them talk.?

Yesterday, Mr. Mussenden and Mr. Simmons denied Government?s decision to hold no debate on casinos was at odds with the PLP promise of an open dialogue.

Mr. Mussenden said: ?I would say that what Mr. Simmons said as party spokesman is not really different from the Government position.

?With the greatest respect to Mr. Simmons, you will have to check where he got his statement from.?

Mr. Simmons said: ?There isn?t really much of a story. Obviously there was a feeling that there should at least have been dialogue.

?I don?t want to go against what the Premier and the Government has said. The party is prepared to take our call from Government leaders. There is no difference.

?There is always the desire from the party for constructive dialogue. But if a poll was taken today, the constituency would not be there to support gaming.

?So, as far as my statements were concerned, and they are the party?s reflection, I feel it has had an airing and Government has made the statements necessary and we will leave it at that.?

Opposition leader Grant Gibbons repeated his party?s call for a commission to look at the pros and cons of casinos. ?The United Bermuda Party is not advocating gaming, but we don?t think we should be putting our heads in the sand because gaming is very accessible to Bermudians through the internet, travel and gaming possibilities that exist on the Island,? said Dr. Gibbons.

?The community is divided on the issue so we need a commission as a way of looking at this carefully to get all the pros and cons.

?At the end of the day the recommendation that may come from the commission could be the same ? that there should be no expansion of gambling, but at least the conclusion would have been reached by carefully looking at the whole picture, and not just a small part of it which is gaming machines.

?It may simply drive a lot of gambling underground which may have even worse social consequences.?