VIPsports takes a gamble with football Web site

NEWS Online betting company VIPsports has today launched its latest Web site devoted to football. The company says the VIPsports.com challenges what it describes as the UK's draconian gambling tax laws by offering tax-free betting to anyone from anywhere in the world. Governments are concerned that sites like these will drain tax revenues, but Alistair Assheton, worldwide general manager at VIPsoccer, thinks any move to tax online betting could strangle the market. He said: "One of the things that will be limiting is when the governments of the world get together and agree on a common policy regarding the Web. We're very interested in that but don't see it in the immediate future." VIPsoccer.com users can place tax-free bets on a vast range of football leagues around the world. John O'Reilly, managing director of betting giant Labrokes' online division (Ladbrokes International) - which has also launched an online venture this week - criticised VIPsoccer.com's strategy to offer betting on football leagues across the globe. "The English, German, Italian and Spanish leagues are televised all around the globe, so people can place a bet and watch the game. But to gamble on an un-televised game in a distant country doesn't make sense - I don't think it will work," said O'Reilly. VIPsoccer.com - based in the Dutch Antilles, near the Caribbean - is powered by technology from specialists Interactive Gaming and Wagering, which also supplies the security software with 128-bit SSL encryption. For more information about both sites go to http://www.vipsports.com and http://www.ladbrokes.com .