A top lawyer yesterday called for Bermuda to take a gamble on casinos to kickstart the tourism industry and allow ordinary Bermudians to hit a jobs jackpot.

And barrister Julian Hall said Government should look at a Royal Commission on gaming on the Island in the wake of a new law banning the importation of hi-tech video gambling machines and spare parts.

Mr. Hall -- who represents the importers and operators of the machines -- added: "My best hope is that at some point in the next year, Government will perhaps consider the wisdom of establishing a Royal Commission or Government Commission on gaming.

"I mean all aspects of gaming -- not just gaming machines but casinos and how they could impact revenues in the country.'' And he added: "One thing to consider would be limited casino gambling for tourism -- tourism is disappearing and it's not getting any better.'' Mr. Hall said: "Bermuda is only doing well for those in international business and certain of the professional service industries.

"This Island is increasingly falling beyond the reach of the average Bermudian.'' Mr. Hall was speaking after MPs on Friday voted to ban further imports of the video machines -- which generally offer on-screen versions of blackjack or poker for money stakes.

But he said: "Right now, anybody can gamble on the Internet, so there can be no effective ban on gaming in Bermuda -- unless you ban people from using their personal computers.'' And the ex-MP added: "I don't think these things can be resolved in a simple Parliamentary debate where all aspects of the issue -- the social, financial, political and religious -- can be quickly determined against the background of a single bill.'' He said Bermuda could examine the booming Bahamanian tourism industry, fuelled in part by lavish hotel construction founded on massive profits from casinos, restricted to visitors only.

Mr. Hall added that he accepted that gambling was a controversial issue on the Island.

He said: "I can have sympathy for those who are sticking their finger in the dyke to try and halt progress.'' But Mr. Hall insisted: "The important thing people need to understand is the future has arrived and there's no stopping it. There is gambling in Bermuda on the Internet and you can't stop it.'' And he said: "It is a well known fact that many of these moralising legislators and so-called Christians can't wait to take their vacations outside of Bermuda so that they can enjoy a full week's stay in these casino hotels.

"Why should Bermudian people lose this revenue? At the very least we should be entertaining our tourists at the level which they have become accustomed and they desire. Times have changed.'' During the debate on the importation ban, Opposition MPs said the machines already on the Island could work for as long as 30 years and called for a fixed cut-off date.

But Premier Jennifer Smith told MPs that further legislation would be brought forward "to deal with the machines that are already here'' following consultation with importers and operators, although she did not mention a specific time frame.

Mr. Hall said: "I got the impression that a cut-off date is being considered, but nothing would be done until consultation with interested parties takes place.

"As far as we're concerned, things remain the same as they were during the meeting we had with Government earlier -- that the machines would be allowed to run out their natural lifespan.

"And we understand that the lifespan of these machines would be several years.'' Mr. Hall said he had laid out the importers' legal case to the previous Government, which allowed the machines to be imported and levied Customs duty on them.

He added: "This is real property -- and that gives rise to certain Constitutional rights concerning property.

"This Government is not going to be so silly as to expose itself to a massive bill by putting forward ex post facto (after the fact) legislation.

"That's why they've taken the sensible course of establishing that there will be a moratorium on the further importation of machines and a moratorium -- for what it's worth -- on the importation of parts, because parts are a software story and that can be carried out here or sent down the wire.'' But Mr. Hall said: "When the dust settles, the appropriate thing would be to call for a full-blooded commission which would include spokespersons and experts from all relevant areas who would fully examine the issue and present to Government a carefully detailed study.'' Lotteries and gaming fall under the responsibility of the Premier and Cabinet Office.

The Royal Gazette was last night unable to obtain comment on Mr. Hall's suggestions from a Government spokesman.