Impossible to lose on new betting website

For once, a bookmaker is making a "bet that can't lose" offer about which, despite closer inspection, a catch fails to make itself manifest. From Saturday, Ladbrokes are offering first-time visitors to their new internet tax-free betting website, ladbrokes.co.uk, a free bet of up to £50. The offer will run throughout the summer.

For once, a bookmaker is making a "bet that can't lose" offer about which, despite closer inspection, a catch fails to make itself manifest. From Saturday, Ladbrokes are offering first-time visitors to their new internet tax-free betting website, ladbrokes.co.uk, a free bet of up to £50. The offer will run throughout the summer.

In addition, first-time telephone customers paying nine per cent tax who place bets on any Euro 2000 game will be able to take advantage of a "double your stake" offer, whereby Ladbrokes are effectively giving punters a free £5 bet by offering to double the stake on a single £5 wager to £10 at their own expense.

Ladbrokes estimate that their promotion may entail them giving away up to £2m in free bets, in which case they could be facing a pay-out of around £1.4m. Let's hope so.