Armchair punting is not for me

Who are 'the betting public'? This nebulous phrase has always intrigued me. Next time you're on the Tube have a look around at your fellow passengers and try to guess which ones are members of this profligate sect.

The term jumped out and bit me when news of a "live action with same screen betting" plan was faxed over yesterday from Blue Square, which styles itself as the UK's largest interactive betting service.

The company's chief executive officer, Martin Belsham, is quoted: "The ability to deliver pictures alongside the betting platform has been seen as one of the crucial elements in delivering the complete betting package and we can now offer this service. Coverage and interactive TV services can sit side by side and so the ONnet platform provides very unique benefits especially to the betting public."

"Blue Square and ONnet offers a site that allows people to watch horse racing, football and other major sporting events while following the latest betting on it."

The message continues: "ONnet's picture-in-picture facility means that you don't have to pay a visit to the bookies, just dash home to watch the match and do it all online with ONnet, the perfect Saturday afternoon's entertainment for armchair sports fans everywhere."

Rhys Grossman, director of commercial operations for ONnet, adds: "This is the first time armchair sports fans have been able to use their TV to watch their favourite sports and bet on them at the same time. Whether you place 50p each-way on the Grand National each year or avidly study form on a weekly basis, ONnet and Blue Square are opening up the internet for everyone."

All I can say is that if the service attracts the 50p each-way Grand National punter it highlights, it is not, in my opinion, going to make a bomb. and, frankly, I like paying a visit to the bookies, the walk does me good and keeps me away from that armchair that threatens to swallow sports fans everywhere.