Government is to overhaul gaming legislation with an umbrella bill to cover all aspects of gambling, from Crown and Anchor to slot machines.

A comprehensive bill is to be tabled as part of the gaming Green Paper in a bid to consolidate Bermuda's complex laws for "greater certainty and clarity".

Premier Dr. Ewart Brown announced the move at a press conference into Government's Throne Speech initiatives this week.

Dr. Brown, Tourism and Transport Minister, said: "You may recall that during the last legislative session, the House rejected proposed amendments to the Prohibition of Gaming Machines Act.

"The amendments were designed to allow certain cruise ships to open casinos during restricted hours while in port.

"At the time, many of my colleagues expressed an interest in having a much wider discussion on the issue of gaming.

"The Throne Speech referred to gaming as a 'vexed issue' and rightly so. A tremendous amount of commentary accompanies any discussion about gaming in Bermuda."

The Premier said: "We will table a Green Paper that will set out the research commissioned by the Task Force on Gaming. There will be some clear indications of what is not suitable for Bermuda and what, provided it is supported, Bermuda could have.

"Additionally, the Paper will recommend consolidation of all laws that touch on gaming of any kind into one piece of legislation. This will permit far greater certainty and clarity in the law.

"In my view, once we as a community are able to make an informed decision based on high quality, independent research, we can make a decision that represents what is best for all of us in Bermuda."

The Throne Speech stated: "The vexed issue of gaming for Bermuda must be fully debated. Accordingly, during this Session the Government will invite the Legislature to consider a Green Paper on Gaming for Bermuda and provide the results of dispassionate research on the issue for public consumption."

Bermuda's complex gaming laws have come under fire over the years for their inconsistency. Pro-gaming groups say the law is unclear and open to interpretation.

For example, they argue that while poker in bars and slot machines are banned, Crown and Anchor is allowed at cricket matches. In April 2007, organised poker games in licensed premises were cancelled after the Bermuda Police Service said establishments could be violating the Liquor Licence Act 1974 and the Criminal Code Act 1907.

The move led some poker players to criticise Bermuda's laws as "double standards".

Dr. Jeffrey Brown, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church which opposes all gambling described the Island's gaming laws as "inconsistent".

"I can certainly see how a Government struggles between protecting society and protecting rights," he said.

A recent independent poll for The Royal Gazette showed just 34 percent of people are in favour of relaxing gaming legislation, with 47 percent against.

The Premier's cruise ship gaming bill was rejected by 18 votes to 11 in the House of Assembly in July.

If passed, the Prohibition of Gaming Machines Amendment Act 2009 would have allowed ships to open casinos in port between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In October last year Dr. Brown commissioned a $300,000 report into the impact gaming would have in Bermuda, after hoteliers lobbied him to relax the gaming laws.

The findings of the report, by New Orleans-based consultants Innovation Group, will be presented to the public in the forthcoming Green Paper.