Gamblers love the game for one reason really and that's the doubling, as it brings an element of insanity or madness to the game. If you're on top during the game you can double the points on offer. If your opponent accepts the double, the game carries on; if they decline, they lose the game.

But the same player can't redouble; this way the game ebbs and flows, with both players doubling each other up to 64 times the original points (or dollars/pounds/euros) value. Other variants of a doubles game and a gammon are added and gambling mania ensues.

But even though the game has a world wide popularity, not all countries accept its gambling prowess, classifying it either as a game of skill or luck, as in the case of the UK, where it is deemed to be a game of skill and luck and therefore licenceable. Even with the relaxed UK gaming laws recently, introduced, backgammon remains the enigma to the norm.

Whilst 'In Germany and Scandinavia, the game is defined as a game of skill and so isn't subject to the gambling laws there. In fact Scandinavia and Danish brewer Carlsberg have always supported the game at grass roots level. In Britain, UK Betting has decided to encourage British players and gamblers to take up backgammon. Mark Irvine is director of marketing at UK Betting "It is his ambition to side line poker as the number choice in gaming online, or at least give backgammon the chance to become its equal". He says confidently.

"We have a potential audience of 8.5 million people of whom we are talking to about backgammon, because we're determined to be the catalyst for the game in The UK, where backgammon is a perfect peer-to-peer product. whether on or offline".

"Backgammon people enjoy the chat aspect as they play, and those who are exponents of the game often share their knowledge and tips with new players. Poker on the other hand remains a closed deck". "The community-focused aspect of offline play has tipped over into the online arena and the increased use of broadband means players can play as quickly as they can around a board".

Irvine is correct when he pinpoints the rise of broadband technology as the reason backgammon has come back into vogue. There are a fair few websites that offer both money and fun matches. Some even allow site visitors to watch games in action. While this may seem an insignificant feature, other entertainment sectors such as the video-games industry attract enormous attendances for watching online tournaments. Already backgammon is becoming a spectator sport, as well as a gambler's alternative.

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