The world of betting has changed drastically since the arrival of betting exchanges.

Naturally bookmakers are not happy that it is now legal for punters to bet against each other on the Internet through the system. But the exchanges are not complaining.

One of the newest is Sporting Options, based at Burgess Hill.

Boss of the operation is Kevin Griffiths, a schoolmate of Brighton and Fontwell manager Phil Bell.

The system works by punters lodging a sum of money with an exchange which takes only three per cent on all transactions.

The punter is then free to list his odds on the website which is available to all others registered with the exchange.

What it amounts to is one man's opinion against another.

All bets are made anonymously, the minimum stake is just £1 and the minimum deposit £25.

Registered customers must have sufficient funds in the account to cover their bets and the system verifies all customer balances, guaranteeing that all bets will be honoured.

Sporting Options reckons the prices posted are anything from 15 to 20 per cent better than the starting price because there are no bookmakers' margins.

Sporting Options employs 21 people at Burgess Hill and, since its inception eight months ago, has matched £120m-worth of bets.

The website address: www.sportingoptions.co.uk and further queries can be taken on 01444 237237.