[Ian Davies]

I sympathise, but this tale acts as a warning.

There will always be new independent online bookies, betting to unsustainably tight margins and offering loss-leading freebies, there may well too be more new exchanges, with ''too good to be true'' seeded bets.

Any idiot who operates like this can't run a betting business competently, and is likely to go bust and take your cash with it.

This sounds like a fly-by-night operation which didn't even have its own software (so rented it and evidently hasn't paid its bills).

There are no silver bullets in business - it's hard graft but there are all too many ventures out to make a quick buck, sadly.

And don't think that companies listed on stock markets are immune from corruption either.

You have to make every deposit to every betting site with your eyes open, aware that there is nothing to stop the betting operator from stealing your money.