Online gambling company betandwin.com has signed a 10 million euro (12 million US dollars) deal to sponsor the Portuguese soccer league for the next four seasons, local media reported Friday.

But the Association of Portuguese Casinos and the betting regulatory body Santa Casa da Misericordia (SCML) claim that publicizing the Austrian-based company is illegal in Portugal.

The Portuguese advertising code says that there can be no publicity of chance games except those promoted by SCML.

"You cannot advertise alcoholic drinks in soccer either and for years Sagres beer has sponsored the Portugal team and the casinos of Figueira da Foz and Estoril have sponsored the Academica and Estoril teams," Portuguese league president Valentim Loureiro said.

Betandwin.com director Manfred Bodner said he trusted European legislation to rule on the conflict.

Source: Xinhua