Lastminute.com has launched a gambling and betting section.

The service will be available via lastminute.com's Staying In channel, which features a variety of products such as DVD rentals, takeaway delivery and TV listings targeting consumers looking for products and services when at home. It has been launched with resort and hotel giant Sun International's internet gambling operation Casino Atlantis Online as the first partner.

'Lastminute.com is always looking for new revenue streams that are relevant to our brand and of interest to our customers, although gambling is not expected to be a significant part of our business,' said Carl Lyons, head of UK marketing at lastminute.com. 'Gambling fits our offering as a service to people for the occasional sociable bet and especially where there is a last-minute angle.'

Additional partners will include bethedealer.com, which is due to go live on lastminute.com in mid-February.

Bethedealer.com, which is the consumer brand run by parent Casino Village On Net, allows punters to gain credits, regardless of whether they win or lose as players, and then use those credits to play as a casino themselves against other bettors that log on to gamble.

Its first UK deal, with portal Lycos, went live last week.

The deal was brokered by Julie Meyer, founder of matchmaking vehicle First Tuesday, who is now chief executive of venture capital firm Ariadne Capital.

The company also offers a white-label version of its proprietary product under licensing agreements.