Skybet User and Expert reviews December 2024

Skybet is the sports betting arm of Sky Betting & Gaming, and if you haven’t heard of it before you most probably have heard of Sky TV its parent company.  The bulk of Skybet’s operation is based in Leeds and they offer a betting service online via desktop, mobile, and Sky interactive television. It is one of the few British sports betting companies to operate entirely online and not through an accompanying chain of bricks and mortar high street shops. In this Skybet overview, we take a look at the features of this popular sports betting site and what punters reactions to it have been. We will also take a look at the markets and odds on offer to let you know if the site is worth taking your time to explore further.

Brief History and Interesting facts about Skybet

Skybet began life back in 2000 when BSkyB took over a Sports Internet Group which was made up of Surry Sports which was a small online sports betting company, Opta Index, and Planet Football. In 2002 they rebranded under the name Skybet. They have continued to acquire and absorb other companies such as Totalbet, UKBetting, and 365 Media Group. In 2011 Skybet released its first apps onto the market which is now available for iOS and Android users. With the might of Sky behind them, Skybet has been subjected to big marketing companies using slogans such as ‘It matters more when there’s money on it’ and ‘Nothing’s certain, that’s why it’s exciting.’ Currently, ex-pro footballer Jamie Redknapp is the frontman for Skybet’s football platform which is one of the most heavily promoted sports on the site. Skybet is fully licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.

Players Reviews and Advice Regarding Skybet

The overall reviews we came across when conducting our own Skybet review were on the whole positive with plenty of good things to say, but with one or two recommendations about how the service could be improved. One feature that scored well was the integration between the sports betting site and the sports shown on Sky Sports. Though at the moment only horse racing and greyhound racing is available for live streaming which doesn’t compare that well against some of the competitors that list many different sports – perhaps this is a nudge towards Sky TV perhaps.

Punters were impressed with the football betting which is clearly getting a big push and heavy promotion by the team, which is understandable as it is by far one of the biggest markets in the UK. Prices were generally perceived positively which, like many of the big names, sit comfortably in the middle ground being neither amazingly low nor eye wateringly high. Though there are extra features to boost the attractiveness of the price such as Super 6, Sporting Life Pick 7, and the Fantasy Six A Side which put up free ways of making money. Some minor negatives included the introductory offer which some saw as a bit small, but everyone would like a higher bonus no matter what it is, and a general desire for more ongoing promotions for smaller betters.

Key Factors of Skybet To Consider:

Bonuses and Promos

Like all good online sports betting sites, Skybet offers introductory bonuses to new players and ongoing promotions for existing users. These can change so make sure to check when signing up to make sure you are eligible for them. At the moment for the Skybet sign up bonus will give a new customer 100€ in free bets providing they first sign up and make a 5€ bet on a wager with odds of 2.0 or higher. It is a generous offer but keep in mind that the stake is not paid out when using the free bet, only any winnings from the free bets can be withdrawn. There is also a Skybet Club where players are rewarded with £5 for each week they bet £25 in eligible markets. Of course, please read terms and conditions for the full details.

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Markets and Odds

You get the number of markets you would expect from a company of this size which is a good amount. The range of sports on offer is large, with football and horse racing taking centre stage and are promoted heavily. As with all online bookmakers the bigger the sport and the bigger the event then the more markets with good Skybet betting odds will be available for punters to find the right wager for. The site is well laid out and at first glance, the sports selection might look limited but a quick search should turn up the event you are looking for. Margins are decent as well with an average of around 5% for the most popular markets which is good for the industry.

Live Betting

From the main page, you will see some of the in-play betting options going on at that moment. Going to the in play section for that event will display far more options for having a punt mid-event as it will display the markets that are available for it. There isn’t much information other than score and the list of markets, except with football which includes some extra stats, but less info than you may be used to elsewhere. Skybet also has a cash out option for eligible Skybet live bets which is a great feature that helps punters minimise losses or guarantee profits.

Maximum and Minimum Betting Limits

Skybet has both ends of the spectrum covered when it comes to its betting limits and what is allowed on the site. For the price conscious punter, there is a minimum betting limit of just 5p. While on the higher end it is slightly more complicated. There isn’t a maximum betting as such but the upper limit is calculated by the max winning potential. Generally, the absolute max that can be won on a single bet is £500,000 but may be less depending on the sport. So while this may not be the highest out there it is more than enough to keep most punters happy. Irish horse racing is restricted to £250,000, and greyhounds have an upper limit of £100,000.

Live Streaming

Live streaming is one aspect of the Skybet site that lets the side down slightly. The reason for this is that it is only available for horse racing and greyhound races, which is strange considering Sky’s heavy involvement in televisual programming and sports involvement. To gain access to the live streamed horse racing then punters must have made a bet of at least £1 on the race to view it. One good thing about Skybet Live streaming is that it is available on mobile devices but it would be nice to see the addition of more sports to the service to up its game against competitors.

Mobile Apps

There are two ways that Skybet can be accessed and used on mobile devices. The first way is for those that are averse to downloading software. In this case, the site can be accessed via the web browser on most modern smartphones. It has been optimised for mobile use and will resize to fit the screen size of the device you are using. The second is by downloading the native app. At the moment the Skybet mobile betting app can be acquired for free from the Apple App Store for iOS users or the Google Play Store for Android users. The good thing about the betting apps is that virtually anything that can be done at the full desktop version of the site can be done on the app.

Payment Methods

There are plenty of Skybet payment methods that you can use at Skybet for depositing and withdrawing money from your account. The most popular payment methods are Maestro, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, and by bank transfer. Paypal has also given the seal of approval to Skybet and can be used for both deposits and withdrawals. The withdrawal limit is £10, and deposit limits can be set to keep tabs on spending. One nice feature that Skybet has rolled out for customers with a Barclays account is their Fast Withdrawal service. This provides these customers with withdrawal times of between a few seconds to two hours so it is super fast.