Share options: Has Vinnie Jones gone barking mad?

Vinnie Jones is to front gobarkingmad.com's 24/7 dog racing gambling site, due to go live next week, and provide the punters with weekly tips.

The famous footballer turned actor has been signed by gobarkingmad's parent, Gaming Internet, to appear on the net and on the company's interactive digital television channel, also due to go live next week.

Jones will be making a punt himself by being paid in 100,000 share options at 20p per share. The AIM-listed shares currently trade around 28p and the company has yet to make a profit.

Ian Rider, founder and group strategy director, said: "Vinnie Jones is well known in the UK as one of the biggest greyhound fans and known internationally as a star. So he suits gobarkingmad."

Gaming Internet recently signed a five-year deal with Sky TV for coverage from 35 Australian dog tracks and has rights to a further 31 around the world.

Rider said: "We will be covering around 80,000 races a year - one every seven-and-a-half minutes, 24 hours a day. You'll be able to make a bet a three in the morning, if you want."

Dog racing is reckoned to be a £5bn a year worldwide industry and Rider expects the extra exposure to expand this.

Punters can register to bet with either credit or debit cards and get into the action instantly. Wins are paid instantly unless winners desire cheques, which are issued daily.