Premier Ewart Brown has appointed a task force to consider whether Bermuda should allow gaming, insisting yesterday that consultation on the controversial topic was not just a "sham".

Lawyer Wendell Hollis was named chairman of the new advisory group, which will make recommendations to Cabinet once the results of a $300,000 feasibility study are delivered before the end of March.

The study, being conducted by the Innovation Group, is investigating the pros and cons of having casinos and a national lottery on the Island, as well as looking at how such activities could be legislated, how much money they could raise for the public purse and their likely social and economic impact.

Those who support the introduction of gambling in Bermuda say it could help to dramatically boost the struggling tourism industry — but church leaders continue to oppose the idea on moral grounds.

Tourism Minister Dr. Brown was asked at a press conference yesterday what he thought of claims that the feasibility study and planned public consultation were formalities and that Bermuda would soon allow gaming regardless.

"I would say that it's groundless," he replied. "The fact that some of us believe that gaming is a viable option for Bermuda does not make this exercise a waste of time.

"If we wanted to take that approach then simply we would have brought the recommendation to Cabinet and just made a decision, period, and we would have been within our rights to do that.

"We are not doing this as a sham. We are really taking a look, a $300,000-plus look at the feasibility of gaming."

He added: "Rather than have emotional discussions every few years where people make noise and then we end up not knowing anything more about gaming than we might have known before, we thought Bermuda deserved a good, comprehensive scientific look."

The study is being part-funded by the hotel industry and two of Bermuda's leading hoteliers were named as members of the task force yesterday: Fairmont Southampton managing director Norman Mastalir and Tucker's Point Club CEO Ed Trippe.

Mr. Mastalir has publicly spoken about how he believes the introduction of upmarket "tasteful" venues similar to those in Atlantis, on Bahamas' Paradise Island, or in Puerto Rico, could help rejuvenate tourism here.

Mr. Trippe said when the study was announced in October that he welcomed Government taking the lead and that it was timely due to the impact of the global financial crisis on tourism.

Yesterday, Mr. Hollis insisted the task force would take an objective look at the issues, based on the scientific results of the study. "I call myself gaming neutral," he said. "I have no personal interest in it; I equally have nothing against it."

He said if the recommendation was one in favour of gaming, there would still be decisions needed on who could operate casinos, when they would open and who could use them.

Citing the Bahamas, where citizens and residents cannot attend casinos but tourists can, he said Bermuda might also look at that question.

Dr. Brown said the task force would "operate absent of any Government appointees or influence" and would help the Innovation Group gather public opinion at a series of soon-to-be-held meetings.

"I think we have developed a team that represents a demographic cross-section of Bermuda and is made up of serious thinkers committed to making decisions that they sincerely believe are in the best interest of the country," he said.

The other members of the task force are accountant Deena Harvey and lawyer Marc Daniels.