Free Publicity

Wasn't it nice of SIC to dedicate a large section of this evening's news to betandwin.com, the on-line betting site: "Who are Betandwin?"

Lots of questions raised - none answered other than "where" - Vienna, Austria. Didn't know that.

"The site is challenging the State's monopoly." Cue learned comments from Estoril Sol and Santa Casa (taped some weeks ago). The piece failed to point out that neither the casinos nor Santa Casa offer on-line betting on the outcome of individual sporting events.

"The tax man receives nothing." Also unresearched. I see no reason for bets placed from Portugal to be subject to Corporation tax and possibly VAT. The rules exist. It's just a question of finding a way to apply them. No interview with an expert in this area.

What sort of training (or is it the brief?) do these journalists have, to produce such a half-hearted report to be aired on prime time TV? If I were Betandwin, I'd be rubbing my hands with glee. Prime time, free publicity to a large proportion of the Portuguese public (excluding those who were watching the Benfica match on TVI).