people will question the approach of allowing those on the Island to remain in operation for now.

Government has stated that it will refuse to allow the importation of any more of the machines, but it seems likely that those on the Island will be allowed to stay -- at least until they break down.

The move is likely to be unpopular with users of the machines -- although some gamblers interviewed by The Royal Gazette seemed to welcome the move as a way of saving them from themselves -- and will be bad news for some bar owners who may now make as much money from the machines as they do from drink sales.

Nonetheless, the fact that Government has set a policy of sorts on the issue is welcome after years of vacillation -- despite the efforts of United Bermuda Party MP Gary Pitman -- by the previous administration.

Government has now promised a round of consultation and fact finding before any legislation is changed. Government also claims the Attorney General believes the machines are illegal under the Lotteries Act, a view with which lawyers for the importers and operators of the machines disagree. The fact that Government has stated that it will not test the law in court suggests that there is a good deal of room for legal argument.

But gambling is so insidious and costly to the community that Government deserves praise for moving against the machines.

Now it needs to conduct a full review of gambling -- possibly including a Green or White Paper to outline how Bermuda should proceed.

This newspaper has long taken the view that gambling is bad for the social fabric of the Island.

It can be argued that there is nothing wrong with "having a flutter''; it does little harm, and if the gamblers are lucky, they can make some money as well. At the same time, casinos have been put forward as a panacea for tourism, despite the mixed results that other resorts have had after allowing them.

When gambling becomes habitual or addictive, the damage can be immense and there comes a time when people need to be protected from their own habit.

At the same time, the claim that Bermuda is free from year-round gambling deserves to be shot down. Apart from Crown and Anchor, gambling on soccer pools and horse racing is allowed (with a "sin tax'' going to Government) and bingo funds churches, sports clubs and charities.

The greater problem for Government now is the advent of technology. Offshore gambling and Internet gambling are becoming pervasive and are almost impossible to regulate.

Finally, Bermudians take part in lotteries in other countries. Some are genuine and some are scams, but the fact is that Bermudians are joining in, just as they enter get rich quick schemes.

In in its review, Government should decide what kinds of gambling it wishes to permit and those forms it can readily prevent.

At the same time, it should look at introducing a lottery. This would keep some money at home which is now going abroad and it could dedicate the proceeds to certain charities and sporting bodies whose demands on public and private money seem to be never-ending.