into some Island drinking establishments but says he's playing strictly by the book.

Neil Inchcup of Freeport Home Bingo yesterday told The Royal Gazette he has about four machines capable of dispensing 3,000 $1 bingo tickets in various local watering holes, but he insists he is not vending lottery tickets.

Similar bingo tickets have been on sale in licensed liquor establishments for the past year, he said, and the only difference is patrons buy them from a machine instead of a bartender.

"The machine is just a dispenser, all that's changed is we've taken the aggravation off the bartender.'' On the surface Mr. Inchcup's latest venture appears to follow a June 1995 ruling handed down by Senior Magistrate William Francis, stating bingo was illegal in all establishments except those with a liquor licence.

"We're of the opinion the bingo being played is legal,'' added Mr. Inchcup's attorney, Richard Hector: "We go along with the opinion of the Senior Magistrate on this issue.'' But Police and staff at the Attorney General's chambers have not seen the new machines and were unclear whether they adhered to the Lotteries Act of 1944: "Legally this issue is about as clear as mud,'' said Police Superintendant Vic Richmond.

Added Crown Counsel Philip Storr: "Our position for the moment is the Police have not received a complaint and have not been asked to investigate. We can only act if the Police have been called in.'' Beyond that he said, the Attorney General's chamber has been too busy to even revisit the issue.

The Lotteries Act forbids "any scheme, method or device whereby money prizes, or other prizes are allotted or distributed by lot or chance'' with some exceptions such as charities or social clubs.

Under the trade name Bermuda Islands Bingo, the blue vending machines have started appearing in a few well-known drinking establishments, including The White Horse Tavern in St. George and M.R. Onions in Hamilton.

Players deposit a $1 American bill to purchase the ticket and then peel back five tabs revealing letters spelling B-I-N-G-O. Prizes range from $300 to $1, depending on what is found behind the tab.

Waiter Gladwin Talbot of the White Horse reports the machines have proven to be to popular with locals and visitors alike: "Everyone's playing them.''