favour of a casino.

They say a Government or hotel-run casino could produce the cash needed to pay for more and better entertainment.

The recommendation comes from an entertainment task force set up by the Competitiveness Commission.

The task force, headed by advertising chief Mr. John White, supports the idea of a "European-style'' casino.

Mr. White said: "We are strictly looking at something better for the visitor to do, because Bermuda has this boring image, and also in order to support better entertainment.

"As far as being able to support better entertainment and more entertainment, there's nothing that could do that like a casino.

"If European-style casino gambling can be utilised to support better entertainment, then our task force supports it 100 percent.'' Most local entertainers have to hold down two or three jobs because venues cannot afford to pay them enough, he said.

Instead of a hotel trying to use cover charges or hiked room rates to pay for an entertainer, it could get more cash from a casino.

If the casino were Government-run it could use the proceeds to fund entertainment in the place itself, plus free attractions like street musicians, a band at the Airport and a band welcoming cruise ships.

Mr. White said a casino was not the task force's top recommendation. Their priority was a redevelopment of the local entertainment industry, which he said had been almost lost to "international and foreign entertainment''.