Sky Betting and Gaming
Encyclopedia
Sky Betting and Gaming is a British
-based gambling
company, and a subsidiary of BSkyB
, with offices at Sky's headquarters in Isleworth
, London
and in Leeds
, West Yorkshire
. The company consists chiefly of five websites and two TV channels. On 21 October 2011, the company's services were changed into the new "tube" look which accompanies many of BSkyB's channels.
Sky Bet is the sports betting
division of Sky Betting and Gaming, with the majority of its operations run from Leeds. The company allows betting via its website, telephone, mobile phone (WAP) and interactive television through Sky. It remains one of the few sports betting companies in the UK not to operate traditional high street shops. The company uses the slogan 'It matters more when there's money on it'.
Sky Bet is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission
.
Sky Bet has a dedicated TV channel of the same name on Sky channel 864.
. Sky Bet features heavily (through advertising and shared content) on the former 365 Media Group sites, as well as skysports.com thanks to their common ownership and proximity (they are based in nearby Leeds
). Sky Bet's success has prompted Sky to branch out within the betting and gaming industry.
division. It currently offers an online casino
website. The company's online casino offering is distinguished from the majority of its competitors in that it now plays in-browser rather than requiring a software download (currently being flash based, formerly distributed on CD). The company uses the slogan 'All the best games, all in one place'.
Sky Vegas is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) (GCB
).
Until 12 April 2011, Sky Vegas had a dedicated TV channel of the same name on Sky channel 864 (which was formerly called 'Sky Vegas Live'), when it was rebranded Sky Bet.
division, which allows users to play poker on their website and screens selected hands from various games and tournaments (on a slight delay) on its television channel of the same name. Like Sky Vegas the company offers its service in browser rather than with downloadable software, although recently this has changed and downloadable software is now available. The company uses the slogan 'Where Poker Comes Alive'. The channel Sky Poker launched in February 2007 with a program entitled "The Open", which is a (£10 entry) poker tournament. Since then the channel has expanded to show more content from the site, as well as the Sky Poker Tour (SPT). On the TV, Sky Poker typically has a presenter and an analyst, with occasional studio guests. Each hand shown is analysed by both the presenter and the analyst.
Sky Poker is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) (GCB
).
Players can also "satellite" into a tournament, which means qualifying through a series of smaller tournaments, for a small amount of money.
division run from their Isleworth office. Sky Bingo is offered via a website and interactive television through Sky. The company uses the slogan 'Believe in Better Bingo', echoing BSkyB's 'Believe in Better'.
Sky Bingo is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) (GCB
).
comparison website, which compares the odds offered by the most popular betting companies that cater to British customers, including Sky Bet. It forms part of the betting content of some other sites, such as Bettingzone and The Guardian
. The company also offer reviews and comparison of online gambling websites through its 'Casinochecker', 'Pokerchecker' and 'Bingochecker' sections.
Trevor Beaumont, ukbetting’s Managing Director of Gaming, believed Europe represented a significant growth opportunity for ukbetting and sought to leverage the European market, a market that he was familiar with as former Racing and Trading Director of Corals and Managing Director of Eurobet.
BSkyB then owned GoldBet in December 2006 after the purchase of 365 Media Group.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
company, and a subsidiary of BSkyB
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
, with offices at Sky's headquarters in Isleworth
Isleworth
Isleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
. The company consists chiefly of five websites and two TV channels. On 21 October 2011, the company's services were changed into the new "tube" look which accompanies many of BSkyB's channels.
Sky Bet
Sports betting
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.-United States of America:Aside from simple wagers such as betting a friend that one's favorite baseball team will win its division or buying a football "square" for the Super Bowl, sports betting is...
division of Sky Betting and Gaming, with the majority of its operations run from Leeds. The company allows betting via its website, telephone, mobile phone (WAP) and interactive television through Sky. It remains one of the few sports betting companies in the UK not to operate traditional high street shops. The company uses the slogan 'It matters more when there's money on it'.
Sky Bet is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission
Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission is Great Britain's regulatory body for most, but not all, gambling.-History:It was established under the Gambling Act 2005 and assumed full powers in 2007, taking over responsibility from the Gaming Board for Great Britain, in regulating arcades, betting, bingo, casinos,...
.
Sky Bet has a dedicated TV channel of the same name on Sky channel 864.
History
Sky Bet's origins lie in BSkyB's acquisition of Sports Internet Group in July 2000 which included the small telephone and online sports betting based company Surrey Sports alongside two other companies; Planet Football and Opta Index. Surrey Sports was rebranded in July 2002 to create Sky Bet. The company grew in December 2006 when established online betting companies totalbet and ukbetting were consolidated into Sky Bet after BSkyB's purchase of 365 Media Group365 Media Group
365 Media Group is sports media company employing over 100 people in Leeds, England and Cape Town, South Africa.Between 2001 and October 2006, the company was known as ukbetting plc and grew through the acquisition of a number of businesses including: ukbetting.com Ltd, PA Sporting Life Ltd, the UK...
. Sky Bet features heavily (through advertising and shared content) on the former 365 Media Group sites, as well as skysports.com thanks to their common ownership and proximity (they are based in nearby Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
). Sky Bet's success has prompted Sky to branch out within the betting and gaming industry.
Sky Vegas
Sky Vegas is the company's online casinoOnline casino
Online casinos, also known as virtual casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of traditional casinos. Online casinos enable gamblers to play and wager on casino games through the Internet....
division. It currently offers an online casino
Online casino
Online casinos, also known as virtual casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of traditional casinos. Online casinos enable gamblers to play and wager on casino games through the Internet....
website. The company's online casino offering is distinguished from the majority of its competitors in that it now plays in-browser rather than requiring a software download (currently being flash based, formerly distributed on CD). The company uses the slogan 'All the best games, all in one place'.
Sky Vegas is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) (GCB
Gaming Control Board
A gaming control board , also called by various names including gambling control board, casino control board, gambling board, and gaming commission) is a government agency charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, usually a state, and of enforcing...
).
Until 12 April 2011, Sky Vegas had a dedicated TV channel of the same name on Sky channel 864 (which was formerly called 'Sky Vegas Live'), when it was rebranded Sky Bet.
History
'Sky Bet Vegas' was created in March 2003, initially with only 3 fixed odds casino-style games called 'Juicy Jackpot', 'Top Spin' and 'Super Keno'. As its name indicated, it was then part of Sky Bet but has since been made more separate been rebranded to simply 'Sky Vegas' (SkyBetVegas.com is still running, although it is gradually being amalgamated into SkyVegas.com). When limitations on broadcasting Casino games through IDTV were lifted, the company began to offer games through its interactive facility alongside the Sky Vegas Live channel, which shows betting opportunities such as Virtual Horse and Greyhound races. Both the online casino and the television channel re-branded as Sky Vegas in January 2008.Sky Poker
Sky Poker is the company's online pokerOnline poker
Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet. It has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide...
division, which allows users to play poker on their website and screens selected hands from various games and tournaments (on a slight delay) on its television channel of the same name. Like Sky Vegas the company offers its service in browser rather than with downloadable software, although recently this has changed and downloadable software is now available. The company uses the slogan 'Where Poker Comes Alive'. The channel Sky Poker launched in February 2007 with a program entitled "The Open", which is a (£10 entry) poker tournament. Since then the channel has expanded to show more content from the site, as well as the Sky Poker Tour (SPT). On the TV, Sky Poker typically has a presenter and an analyst, with occasional studio guests. Each hand shown is analysed by both the presenter and the analyst.
Sky Poker is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) (GCB
Gaming Control Board
A gaming control board , also called by various names including gambling control board, casino control board, gambling board, and gaming commission) is a government agency charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, usually a state, and of enforcing...
).
Tournaments
- The Open - A £10 buy-in, and the most popular tournament.
- Primo - A £55 buy-in, which can mean a prize pool of up to £25,000
- Velocity - A £5 buy-in, with extremely fast blindsBlind (poker)The blinds are forced bets posted by players to the left of the dealer button in flop-style poker games. The number of blinds is usually two, but it can range from none to three....
- Sky Sports Bounty Hunter - A £33 buy-in tournament, which is also shown on Sky SportsSky SportsSky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
. The action is action-packed and some of the guests who have featured in the studio to cover the tournament include Luke SchwartzLuke SchwartzLuke Schwartz is a professional poker player from London, England.Schwartz's first cash was at the Grosvenor World Masters in 2005 where he won £3,900 for his eighth place finish in the £1,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event...
, Neil ChanningNeil ChanningNeil Andrew Channing is an English professional poker player and author based in Maida Vale, London. He is the 2008 Irish Poker Open champion....
, Ian Frazer (poker player)Ian Frazer (poker player)Ian "The Raiser" Frazer is an English professional poker player and commentator, chiefly noted for his strong record in shootout poker tournaments...
and WPT champion McLean Karr.
Players can also "satellite" into a tournament, which means qualifying through a series of smaller tournaments, for a small amount of money.
Other Programmes
- Sky Poker School - Analysts and Team Sky Poker members discuss the play from viewers who submit hands for analysis. The aim is to educate poker players in skills such as position, bankroll management and bluffing.
- Master Cash - A show dedicated exclusively to cash games. The biggest pots of the week are aired, along with live play from the cash tables each Saturday night.
- Bounty Hunter Live - A live show on Thursday nights covering action from the regular Thursday night tournament, 'The Bounty Hunter', where players earn money as they eliminate opponents.
Sky Bingo
Sky Bingo is the company's latest venture, an online bingoOnline bingo
Online bingo is the game of bingo played on the Internet. It is estimated that the global gross gaming yield of bingo was US$500 million in 2006, and it is forecasted to grow to $1,000 million by 2010....
division run from their Isleworth office. Sky Bingo is offered via a website and interactive television through Sky. The company uses the slogan 'Believe in Better Bingo', echoing BSkyB's 'Believe in Better'.
Sky Bingo is licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) (GCB
Gaming Control Board
A gaming control board , also called by various names including gambling control board, casino control board, gambling board, and gaming commission) is a government agency charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, usually a state, and of enforcing...
).
Oddschecker
Oddschecker is an oddsOdds
The odds in favor of an event or a proposition are expressed as the ratio of a pair of integers, which is the ratio of the probability that an event will happen to the probability that it will not happen...
comparison website, which compares the odds offered by the most popular betting companies that cater to British customers, including Sky Bet. It forms part of the betting content of some other sites, such as Bettingzone and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. The company also offer reviews and comparison of online gambling websites through its 'Casinochecker', 'Pokerchecker' and 'Bingochecker' sections.
Acquisition of GoldBet
In April 2004, 365mediagroup or ukbetting as it was known at the time, the UK’s leading sports content and online gaming business, announced the acquisition of GoldBet SportWetten GmbH (“GoldBet”), the European online sports betting company, for a maximum consideration of €4.5 million, dependent on the achievement of certain performance criteria. For the year ended December 2003, GoldBet had recorded EBITDA of €260,000 on revenues of €8.5 million, with a net asset value of €246,415, and no bank debt.Trevor Beaumont, ukbetting’s Managing Director of Gaming, believed Europe represented a significant growth opportunity for ukbetting and sought to leverage the European market, a market that he was familiar with as former Racing and Trading Director of Corals and Managing Director of Eurobet.
BSkyB then owned GoldBet in December 2006 after the purchase of 365 Media Group.