As the battle for on-line betting intensifies, this Ofex concern is targeting new turf. It announced a joint venture with Superbahis, a Turkish consortium with strong links to a host of Turkish media groups. Sportingbet will provide a dedicated Turkish version of its site with Superbahis providing insight into cultural and commercial differences. This deal follows a similar venture to break into the Japanese market and forms part of a strategy, explained by managing director Mark Blandford, to target and cater for markets on a language as well as geographical basis. Where the group does not possess the necessary expertise, joint ventures will be established, with further such deals expected to be announced shortly. Blandford added that the Spanish and German versions will be operated and marketed by Sportingbet itself. Sportingbet, which operates tax-free internet betting through its Alderney-based subsidiary NetBet, trimmed pre-tax losses for the six months to end of March by 2% to £979,009 as turnover fell 6% to £578,000.