The owner of The Beach in Hamilton yesterday removed 11 damaged and incomplete gaming machines off his premises to make room for more table space.

Rick Olson, who owns the pub on Front Street, said he saw no point in keeping the gambling machines in place when they could not be used.

Eleven of his 14 machines were left unworkable after Police and Customs swooped on the bar and seized the machines in a crackdown on suspected illegal parts.

Some of the units were damaged, while others had major parts removed by the law enforcement agencies.

"Basically, the broken machines were kind of a waste of space," said Mr. Olson.

"I want to use the space for dining and drinking, until we get the parts back to fix them.

"I moved them myself early this morning and have put them in storage and I'm presuming that I will be moving them back in, but when that happens we don't know.

"It could be several weeks, or months, or a couple of days."

Police and Customs seized more than 330 gambling units in their investigation into the importation of illegal spare parts.

According to the Prohibition of Gambling Act 2001, those premises with machines are able to use them, however, if they break down, they are not able to repair them with new parts.

Assistant Collector of Customs Larry Conn said his department had noticed during the last year that a huge amount of spare parts had been imported into Bermuda, and declared for the use in video machines.

But he said Customs and Police suspected that the parts had been illegally used in gaming machines.

However, nine writs have been filed, predominately against Customs, claiming that the machines were unlawfully seized, and arguing that that units should be returned and damages paid for the loss of earnings and any damage.

Mr. Olson, who is just one of the premises involved, has publicly denied any wrong-doing and said his machines were on the Island lawfully, and have never had any new parts fitted.

A hearing is being held at the moment in Supreme Court to determine the outcome of the legal action.