The new media deal widens the scope for punters (eventually throughout the world) to have a bet through their digital television sets.

What is termed the interactive facility on such sets enables viewers, at the touch of a button from a handset, to access the internet and find the sites of bookmakers offering fixed odds or a pool betting medium such as the Tote.

As well as the terrestrial television channel screening racing on certain days - as at the moment - there will be a dedicated racing channel with a wall-to-wall service every day.

The simple mechanics of placing an interactive bet are that, having found the required online outlet, the would-be punter registers his name and address and opens a "deposit account" with the bookmaker against a credit card.

There is no limit to the amount of the deposit. However, similar to the normal betting procedure, there is a likely to be a limit to the amount of money staked.

Any losses are automatically deducted from the original deposit while winnings are credited.

As with a bank, the customer can withdraw money from the deposit as and when required.

The natural safeguard of the system is that no one under age can bet because they do not have a credit card.

Eventually, it is estimated that there will be 20 million homes in this country with either digital televisions or the internet facility, although the figure at the moment is nearer six million.