Who are they?
Run from their offices in Leeds, SkyBet are the sports betting division of Sky Betting and Gaming and a subsidiary of BSkyB. They were founded in 2000 following the acquisition of Sports Internet Group which included Surrey Sports alongside two other companies. They grew in December 2006 when established online betting companies Totalbet and UKBetting were consolidated into SkyBet after BSkyB's purchase of the 365 Media Group, and they now have a television channel of the same name dedicated to them on Sky channel 864.

What do I get?
New customers qualify for a £10 free bet-no deposit offer simply by opening up a SkyBet account. For the purpose of this promotion, those who already hold SkyBet, Sky Bingo, Sky Vegas or Sky Poker accounts are considered to be existing customers. The free bet will be credited immediately after registation is completed, is non-withdrawable and the stake will not be included in your returns.

Odds and sods?
SkyBet’s trading team price up some very generous odds for the big soccer leagues of Europe, but their true strength lies in the numerous specials for almost every football club. Especially popular are their manager and transfer markets which can prove particularly entertaining on a deadline day when watching Sky Sports News.

Taking a punt?
SkyBet possess a busy website, which can often prove a little confusing. That said, they use the centre of the home page well to show the latest live betting and the day’s sporting highlights. The SkyBet betting slip presents itself at the bottom of the screen which works well, and they are another site that use a helpful colour coded system to signify the steamers and drifters in a particular event.

How can they help?
SkyBet offer customer care around the clock in many varieties. They are courteous on the phone, quick to respond to emails and possess a good live chat messenger – all of which are suitable means of contacting them.

What else?
SkyBet treat their customers well, and have recently introduced a loyalty scheme where you can qualify for either free bets or money off your Sky bill. They also have a page dedicated to the SkyBet app for smart phones which is a well designed accessory for betting on the move. The inclusion on their site of a spreadsheet style wallpaper to fool any boss in the near vicinity is an entertaining touch, but they have encountered criticism in the past for their lack of a results section.

If they were in the Premier League…?
SkyBet’s classic blue and white strip and simplistic outlook draws instant comparisons with Queens Park Rangers, and while both are never shy of a spot in the media limelight, the pair are very much on the up and are worthy of their place at the top.