Some residents of Galiano Island are upset over a recent undercover sting operation targeting a small bingo game at a local restaurant.

Two officers with the B.C.'s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch showed up at Deb McKechnie's restaurant last week during the weekly bingo session, claiming to be interested in real estate.

They watched the locals play, but didn't say or do anything to stop the game. The pair stayed overnight at a local B and B, showing up at McKechnie's apartment the next day, with the police in tow.

McKechnie says the officials told her they could have laid criminal charges, but instead they fined her $289.

"I quite frankly think a phone call would have been fine, or a visit, but to pull out a full sting attack over a silly little bingo game in a tiny restaurant with a few retired people and local people who work in all the businesses here?"

Her friends say she deserves an apology from B.C. Gaming Enforcement. Bill Foster, the president of the local Lions Club, says the investigation was heavy-handed and a waste of taxpayers' money.

Solicitor General Rich Coleman says his officers had to investigate because a complaint was laid. And he says there was no way to check it out except by travelling to the island.

"I'll certainly look and see how things were handled, but you know when we get a complaint from the public with regards to gaming, we take it pretty seriously," says the minister.