A Government backbencher is questioning the legality of video gambling machines -- five months after law enforcers first said they would investigate whether such games broke the law.

And Pembroke West MP Gary Pitman plans to bring the matter to the attention of the Attorney General after he tried out one of the machines himself.

Mr. Pitman played on one of the machines -- most of which play card games such as Poker and Black Jack and can dish out hundreds of dollars in winnings -- in a Front Street bar yesterday after hearing a complaint from a constituent that they should be banned.

And he became convinced that the games -- which have become increasingly popular in a number of Hamilton nightspots -- are breaking the Island's strict gambling laws.

"I had a go on one of the machines and as far as I'm concerned it's definitely outright gambling -- I'm now going to look into it further,'' Mr.

Pitman said.

"Basically the law states that there should be no betting at all apart from turf betting which you pay taxes on. I will be contacting the Minister of Finance and also the Attorney General to find out where we stand.'' The constituent who highlighted the problem to Mr. Pitman told The Royal Gazette that she had lost up to $600 a week playing the machines.

The woman, from Spanish Point, who did not wish to be named, said: "They're in places where they sell liquor and that can loosen the purse strings and you can just get carried away.

"I am not an addict -- I can keep it under control -- and I also have a good job and work very hard but other people may be getting into a lot of trouble over it.

"But it is gambling and it should not be easily accessible here on the Island.'' Acting Attorney General William Pierce has now promised to investigate the matter once again after being contacted by The Royal Gazette .

"I don't think anyone in chambers has questioned the legality of these machines,'' he said.

"If there's a complaint to the Police and they are not sure whether it's illegal then they may approach us but it may well be that we have never received a request from them. I will have to find out what's been done about it.'' In April Attorney General Elliott Mottley, who is currently off the Island, said he was unsure if the machines were being operated illegally.

And a Police spokesman also seemed uncertain as to what the law is concerning video machines.

"Following complaints in the past Police have pointed out the law to proprietors and offending games or machines have been removed,'' the spokesman said.