Probs into BetandWin.com sponsorship deals

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A probe launched into online gaming company BetandWin.com sponsorship deal with the Portugese Super Liga, after doubts were raised over its legality. The Vienna-based BetandWin.com signed the EUR 10m, four-year, deal earlier this month however, state-run gaming monopoly Santa Casa de Misericordia objected the deal, claiming that online betting companies are operating without a license in Portugal and promoting them through sponsorship is actually illegal. The 222-year-old Lisbon-based Santa Casa de Misericordia has annual income of �1.1bn, and donates its entire profit of �350m to charity. Less than 10% of its revenue comes from football betting.

It's the latest conflict in a series of Internet and state-run betting operators in southern Europe, the second which involved by Betandwin.com. A one-year deal signed also erlier this month with Danish premier division Camarthen Town, is also being opposed by Dansk Tippetjeneste, the Danish state betting company. BetandWin.com which was founded in 1999, and had record sales of �314.2m in 2004, gets 67% of its revenue from football betting.

According to West Bromwich, England-based Global Betting & Gaming Consultants, the �15.5bn European Internet-betting market will grow almost 10% over the next two years, while traditional gambling will decline by 3.5%. Authorities in Greece and Italy have also launched legal challenges against online gaming companies, saying they are operating illegally.