premises -- even if they only pay out tokens -- contravened the Liquor Licensing Act.

Spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said Police decided not to lay charges against two clubs from whom they confiscated slot machines earlier this month because they believed management had not known the machines were illegal.

"We decided to caution rather than prosecute,'' he said. "It seemed to be a misunderstanding on their part and they were very forthcoming.'' P.c. Venning added the machines themselves, distributed by a local vendor, were not illegal in private homes or "game halls'' as long as they paid out tokens as opposed to cash.

He said the confiscated machines were returned last week to the vendor -- not the clubs, which were Vasco da Gama Club and Queens Club.

"No charges were laid,'' he said. "But proprietors of licensed premises should be warned that future prosecutions may occur for such infringements (on the Act).'' "It should be emphasised that these mechanical slot machines are not in themselves illegal, they can be used, for example, in your private home or game halls but they become illegal when used in licensed premises because they are then in contravention of the liquor Licensing Act.'' One reason for the rule, he said, was to protect intoxicated patrons from gambling all their money away.