Internet service provider Onyx is launching a bid to stop the region's businesses gambling with their future.

The company is aiming to highlight how local businesses do not take enough care when choosing an Internet provider or dealing with web security.

Onyx will have a casino-themed stand at Newcastle's St James' Park on Wednesday and Thursday next week (June 11/12).

Sales and marketing director Neil Stephenson believes it is a light-hearted way of addressing an increasingly important business issue.

He said: "The implications of Internet security issues, from infecting someone else's PC by sending them a virus-ridden e-mail to system attacks from corporate hackers, have never been greater or potentially more costly.

"Businesses need to be sure that both themselves the companies hosting their websites and business-critical data are fully protected against every possible Internet threat - failure to do so could mean big trouble for their companies."

"We hope that visitors to our stand have a bit of fun while they're with us, but also take away the message that Internet security needs to be high up their business operations agenda."