Should You Stay or Jet Away?
Howdy! Welcome to my in-depth Skybook review. I’m going to be covering a lot of ground today, so you might want to sit down, crack open a cold one, and settle in.
This is a relative newcomer to the world of online gambling, so it’s important to take your time to assess it properly. I know I did – this review covers so much that I had to book myself in for a sports massage after writing it!
Anyway, this is primarily a sports betting site, but casino games are also offered if you’re interested in those. I’ll be with you all the way from the start to the finish lines, showing you every nook and cranny of this site from a player’s perspective.
Heck, this site didn’t get to be number one any other way. We’re the heavyweight champs of gambling site reviews for a reason, and you’re about to find out why.
Let’s begin!
Is Skybook Legit?
Yes, Skybook is legit. I found plenty of evidence to back this up:
- It holds a valid gaming license from Curacao. I’m aware that this isn’t exactly the gold standard of iGaming licenses, but the Curacao authorities do not tolerate scam sites, either.
- The casino games at Skybook are run by BGAMING (previously branded as SoftSwiss). This is a legit software company with a great reputation.
- Everything about Skybook is transparent. There are colorful tables detailing the payout methods and associated fees. There are also clearly listed telephone numbers you can call to question anything you’re not sure of.
These things all add up to make me believe this is a legit online casino. I’ve seen plenty of shady ones, and this isn’t one of them.
About Skybook
I like to look behind the scenes and assess the sites I review from a business perspective. This gives me valuable insights into whether or not the site is legitimate. Here’s what I found out about Skybook.
Operator | Skybook Sportsbook & Casino Group |
---|---|
Year Established | 1997 |
Other Sites Owned | N/A |
License(s) | Curacao |
Payouts Verified By | N/A |
There’s not much of a track record to look at. However, it looks like Skybook is out to make a positive difference in the US online gambling scene, which, quite frankly, needs positive change.
As far as the site itself goes, that’s perhaps what I like best about Skybook. It’s a pro site, and it functions perfectly. Everything has clearly been designed and put together by experts, and no expense has been spared. That’s always a good sign.
Who Can and Can’t Play at Skybook?
Skybook accepts players from the following countries:
- USA
- Argentina
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
As you can see, this gambling site is focused on players from the Americas and also accepts some Asian players. Check out some of our other online gambling sites if you can’t play here.
The Good Stuff
I like to start things off on a positive note. Therefore, here are the things I like best about Skybook.
US-Friendly
If you’re from the USA, you’re probably used to the fact that most online gambling sites don’t accept you. Well, this one does, and players from all 50 states are welcome here.
Yes, this is a US-friendly gambling site. It’s highly advisable to use Bitcoin if playing from inside the United States, which leads me nicely to the next point I want to make.
Bitcoin and Litecoin Accepted
Skybook accepts deposits in both Bitcoin and Litecoin, but it only pays out in Bitcoin.
Does this indicate that Skybook wants to hold onto Litecoins? I’m not sure, and frankly, I don’t care. All I care about is that two useful cryptos are accepted here, making it much more convenient, fast, safe, and private for me to place wagers here.
Lots of Awesome Bonuses
There are so many bonuses available at Skybook that I still am not 100% sure I managed to find and cover them all.
There are bonuses for both sports bettors and casino players, and they’re large, to say the least. There are lots of offers tailored to specific interests and games, so be sure to take some time to check that section out either in this review or over at Skybook itself.
The Bad Stuff
Of course, every site has a few shortcomings. Here are the things I’d like to see improved at Skybook.
No UK/Aussie Players
If you’re from the UK or the Land Down Under, you’ll have to go elsewhere, as this gambling site doesn’t accept you. Sorry, it’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
Luckily, we have lots of other great casino sites which will accept you. Check out the best Australian gambling sites or our top-rated UK casino sites for ideas on where to play.
Holding Periods on Bonuses
Some of the welcome bonuses have “holding periods” of up to two weeks. That means that you’ll have to wait two weeks in some cases to withdraw what you win.
This seems random at best, and it would really tick me off if I did have a big win on the back of a welcome bonus and it sat there tempting me to gamble it away before I could withdraw it.
Game Selection
There’s an age-old saying that quality beats quantity, and it’s one you’ve probably said yourself a few times over the course of your life. Well, you’re going to get to put it to the test here, because this site offers a small selection of seriously high-quality games.
You won’t be able to play every variant of every table and card game here, and honestly, the slots selection is puny compared to most other casinos. That said, I challenge you to load the games for yourself and give them a try before dismissing the site on the basis of its game selection.
Intrigued? Good! Let’s look closer.
Software
Ever heard of the casino games provider SoftSwiss? Well, they’re now known as BGAMING, and they’re ready to take on the modern world. BGAMING aims to be the dominant firm in the mobile and blockchain era, and I’ve got to say I’m impressed by what I’ve seen at Skybook and some other BGAMING casinos recently.
BGAMING games are FAST (you’ll see why I put that in caps when you load one), and since 2013, they’ve all been fully Bitcoin compatible. Not only can you use Bitcoin to bet within these games, but they make use of Bitcoin technology in another sense – they’re all provably fair.
Provably fair gaming is one of the most exciting elements of online gambling merging with blockchain technology. It makes it impossible for casinos to cheat, which should definitely excite you.
As you can see, this is an innovative and forward-thinking firm. You’re in for a treat here if you play casino games.
Slots
While you might be used to hundreds or even thousands of slots to choose from at other sites, you’ll have a much smaller selection at Skybook. To be fair, I’d rather have a handful of high-quality games than loads of subpar ones, but I do feel a few more wouldn’t go amiss here.
Check out the following:
- Lucky Blue
- Brave Viking
- Lucky Sweets
- West Town
- Platinum Lightning
- Princess Royal
- Fire Lightning
- Hawaii Cocktails
- Book of Pyramids
- Cherry Fiesta
- Aztec Magic
- Desert Treasure
- Princess of Sky
- Aztec Magic Deluxe
- Crazy Starter
- Fantasy Park
- Lucky Lady’s Clover
The above is the total selection available, although there are some “deluxe” versions of the above games which makes it seem like there are more games on offer than there are in reality. You can check all of them out in “fun mode,” and I recommend you do so to see just how fast and seamless BGAMING slots are.
Make no mistake about it, these slots rival anything put out by Playtech or Microgaming. The jackpots may not be on the same level, but they’re just as good, and in some cases are better than most games those giant software firms release. I’m excited to see how things go for BGAMING in the future. This firm is off to a great start.
Video Poker
There are no video poker games at this casino, even though there’s a video poker tab on the menu.
What you’ll find if you click it are digital variants of poker, rather than video poker games specifically. I have categorized these in the right section under “table games” below.
When I think video poker, I think Jacks or Better, Aces and Faces, and Joker Poker. I don’t think Texas Hold’em and Caribbean Stud, although I do see the logic in why some people might call these games video poker. I’ll agree to disagree with Skybook on this point.
Table Games
You’ll be able to play the following digital card and table games at Skybook. Don’t forget to check out the “live casino” section below if you prefer those games.
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Blackjack Switch
- Blackjack Surrender
- Blackjack Multihand
- Blackjack Double Exposure
- Pontoon
- Hi-Lo Switch
- American Roulette
- French Roulette
- European Roulette
- Casino Hold’em
- Texas Hold’em
- Caribbean Poker
- Trey Poker
- Oasis Poker
- Let It Ride
As you can see, this isn’t the largest selection of card and table games you’re likely to come across. However, all of the “main games” are offered, and this should be enough to satisfy most casual players.
All of these games are powered by BGAMING. You’ll notice that they load in under five seconds and play flawlessly. The graphics are also sharp, and the games have a high-quality feel about them. I’m seriously impressed with what BGAMING has to offer, and I think you will be, too.
Betting limits range from $1 to $100. That makes these games suitable for all bankrolls.
Live Casino
Skybook keeps it simple when it comes to live casino games, offering the “big three” games and focusing on quality over quantity. You can enjoy:
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Roulette
This is the entire selection, but I imagine that’ll be more than enough for the majority of players. The games are professionally run, and I must say the dealers are highly professional.
Note that if you play Baccarat Revamped, a 5% cashback reward is in play. That means more bang for your buck every time.
Other Games
If you just want to switch off and relax for a little while, you have a few instant-win games to choose from. These include:
- Heads & Tails
- Minesweeper
- Scratch Dice
My Favorite Find at Skybook
I really enjoyed playing some new games I hadn’t seen 100 times before. However, one stood out above all others – Platinum Lightning.
This is BGAMING’s answer to the endless slots themed on ancient gods, but the graphics and gameplay are a cut above average. There are longboats, lightning bolts, bulls with axes, warriors with hammers, and bow-wielding princesses on the reels, as you can see from the game screenshot we’ve provided.
The main feature is a free spins round with two wild reels, offering lots of potential wins, and the jackpot is 8888x, which I think you’ll agree is not on the small side. Definitely check this slot out at Skybook.
Sportsbook
You can bet on most of the “mainstream” sports at Skybook, although it is clearly geared towards North American punters. The following sports are visible in the sidebar as soon as you land:
- Football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Hockey
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Golf
- Boxing
- MMA
- Motor Sports
- Cricket
- Horse Racing
- Other Sports
While it looks clean and has clearly been properly designed, Skybook is basic. You’ll see all of the sports you can bet on in the left-hand sidebar, and when you click them, the various leagues and contests currently ongoing will appear. You’ll then see all of the possible bets you can make and their odds.
As I stated above, Skybet is extremely well organized. It isn’t jam-packed with extra features (there are basically none), but we’ll take an organized site which does things properly but which is basic over a complex one which is difficult to use any day of the week.
We would like to see some features added, such as the ability to convert odds to other formats. As things stand, odds can only be displayed in American format.
One thing we did enjoy, though, was the game previews provided. There’s no in-depth statistics section, but we found these blog posts to be informative and interesting. We give Skybook props for this.
This sportsbook is totally mobile-friendly. I visited on my Android mobile phone and was served up a compatible version right off the bat.
On a mobile, you’ll see the main menu along the top, a slider with the latest promotions on it, and various live lines below that. You can scroll around and navigate to any area of the site through the drop-down menu in the top right. Just tap it to see the various sections of the site.
You can place straight, moneyline, point spread, round robin, teaser, prop, special, and if bets at Skybook. That’s a decent number of betting options.
The only thing I feel is missing at Skybook is live betting. This is a growing trend and is something I’ve personally grown to love over this last year or two. It would be advisable for Skybook to add this soon, as I would personally be put off by the fact this isn’t offered.
The Racebook
If you want to bet on horse racing, you’ll need to click the “Racebook” tab on the main menu.
You’ll see today’s races and tracks on the left-hand side menu. Click on any of them to see the odds and betting options.
As with the sportsbook, the racebook is basic, but it’s user-friendly and functions perfectly, which is the main thing. Placing bets is a piece of cake on this site.
Speaking of placing bets, you can place straight bets, exactas, exacta boxes, Quinellas, daily doubles, three of fours, and trifectas on the Skybook racebook.
Betting Limits
The minimum bet on any event is $5 if you place your bets over the internet. If you do so over the phone, the minimum is $25.
If you place a wager in the racebook, the minimum is $1 over the internet and $5 over the phone.
There are no clear upper limits, but the maximum you can win per day is clearly stated as $100,000.
Promotions
Sometimes I come across gambling sites with so many bonuses that I don’t know if I should even cover them all, and this is one such site. Of course, I always do end up covering them all, and I’ve done that here for you, dear reader.
Skybook is serious about keeping both new and existing players happy. That will become self-evident when you check out the offers below.
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
150% Free Play Bonus
As a new sports bettor, you can claim a 150% bonus on deposits of $200 or more.
No upper limit is indicated, but a maximum bonus of $500 is available for players depositing by credit card.
This bonus is subject to 16x rollover requirements and a two-week hold. The terms and conditions say this bonus is open to players from the Americas, which I assume means both continents.
No bonus code is required to claim this bonus.
100% Cash Bonus
You can also claim a 100% deposit match on deposits of between $300 and $1,000.
In this case, $1,000 is clearly defined as the maximum amount you can claim. It’s open to players who are on regular juice lines and who reside in the Americas.
You’ll need to use the promo code P2P, and 20x rollover requirements apply.
50% Free Play Bonus
This bonus is intended for recreational players, and the maximum bonus is $1,000.
You’ll need to deposit a minimum of $100 to qualify. 5x rollover requirements apply to the deposit + fees + winnings. A one-week hold also applies.
You’ll need to use the promo code 50BONUS, and again, this one is open to players from the Americas.
Bitcoin Deposit Bonus
If you’re planning to use Bitcoin, you’ll be glad to know you can claim 150% in free play up to the limit of $2,500.
The minimum deposit is $300. 18x rollover requirements apply to the deposit + fees + winnings. There’s also a two-week hold on this bonus.
No particular promo code is required to claim this offer.
Reduced Juice Program
If you’re a recreational player, you’ll be eligible to participate in Skybook’s reduced juice program.
You can get -107 reduced juice on NFL, NCAAF, and NBA action on football and baseball.
This only applies to straight bets in the regular season, and bets must be placed online. The betting limits are $1,000 on sides and $500 on totals.
25% Referral Program
If you’ve got friends who like to bet on sports, then Skybook offers you a 25% free play bonus on the value of their first deposit.
Make sure your friend mentions your full name or account number, or you won’t get your bonus. You’ll get your bonus five days after your friend places their first wager.
Casino Welcome Bonus
All new casino players can claim a welcome bonus of 500% on deposits between $25 and $300.
This means the maximum bonus you can claim is $1,500. 35x rollover requirements apply, and the maximum you can cash out is 4x your deposit amount.
Craps, roulette, and dice games don’t count, and this bonus can only be used in the virtual casino.
You’ll need to use the promo code WELCOME500 to claim it.
Reload Bonuses
After you’ve enjoyed your welcome bonus, you can claim one of the following reload bonuses:
- 150% on between $100 and $250. 35x rollover requirements and 4x maximum cash-out terms apply. Use the code RLD150 to claim it.
- 200% on deposits between $251 and $500. Again, 35x rollover and 4x maximum cash-out terms apply. Use the code RLD200 to claim it.
- 300% on deposits between $501 and $1,000. 35x rollover and 4x conversion limits apply. Use the code RLD300 to claim it.
Make sure to use the appropriate codes when claiming these offers. Failing to do so could make it a real pain to get your hands on them.
Slots Bonuses
If you’re out to spin the reels of fortune in the hope of that one payout which changes everything, check out the following slots reload bonuses:
- 350% on deposits between $100 and $250. 30x wagering requirements and 4x conversion limits apply. Use the code SLTRLD300 to claim it.
- 500% on deposits between $251 and $500. 32x rollover and 4x conversion limits apply. Use the code SLTRLD500 to claim it.
- 600% on deposits between $501 and $1,000. 32x rollover and 4x conversion limits apply. Use the code SLTRLD600 to claim it.
Again, be sure to use the right promo code for your deposit size when claiming any of these offers.
Live Casino Bonuses
There are two sign-up bonuses for those of you who are interested in the Skybook live casino. They work as follows:
- 150% on deposits between $100 and $250. 39x rollover and 2x conversion limits apply. The bonus funds are non-withdrawable. Use the code NCL150 to claim this offer.
- 175% on deposits between $251 and $500. The same 39x rollover and 2x conversion limits apply. The bonus itself is non-withdrawable. Use the code NCL175 to claim this bonus.
There are also two reload bonuses for live games players at Skybook. These include:
- 125% on deposits between $100 and $250. 36x rollover and 2x conversion limits apply. The bonus itself is non-cashable. Use the code RLC125 to claim this bonus.
- 150% on deposits between $251 and $500. The same 36 rollover and 2x conversion limits apply. Again, you can’t withdraw the bonus itself. Use the code RLC150 to claim this offer.
200% Casino Referral Bonus
If you’ve got buddies who like to play casino games online, you can claim a 200% referral bonus on the value of their first deposit. The maximum bonus available is $200.
20x rollover requirements apply, and the most you can cash out is 2x the bonus value. You’ll need the code CREF to claim this offer.
Bonuses Summary
Wow! There are a lot of bonuses available at this site, as you can see. Whatever you’re into, there’s something for you, and as far as I can see, the terms and conditions are fair enough. Just be aware of the holding periods on some of the welcome offers.
The holding period on bonuses isn’t something I see often, and my jaded side tells me it’s Skybook’s attempt to get you to bet it away before you get a chance to withdraw it. See it as a challenge and show them you have the discipline to see the holding period through.
On the whole, I feel there are several great deals on offer for both sports bettors and casino players here. Definitely give the offers which interest you a closer look.
Banking
If you’re going to pay attention to any part of this review specifically, let this be it. Most disputes at online gambling sites arise from players not paying attention to the banking terms. Luckily, I’ve done the legwork for you and presented all the need-to-know information in an easy to digest way.
There are a decent number of ways to get your money into Skybook but not so many ways to get it back out. The ratio is 8:3, which is a little weak, to be frank. The most you’ll be able to withdraw in any 7-day period is $4,000.
That said, payouts are processed fairly quickly between Monday-Friday, and you’ll have your cash within a few days provided you don’t opt to receive a check, in which case it could be 12 days.
There are no fees for Bitcoin withdrawals, but there are fees on the other two methods. The fees on Person to Person withdrawals depend on the amount, and the fee on withdrawals by check is a flat $50. Please also note that checks are sent in increments of $500.
Skybook does accept both Bitcoin and Litecoin, but it only pays out in Bitcoin. It’s still great to see this site embrace cryptocurrencies, so I’m not complaining.
Deposit Methods
- Bitcoin
- Litecoin
- MGPAY
- Person to Person
- Bank Wires
- Checks
- Visa
- Mastercard
Withdrawal Methods
- Bitcoin
- Person to Person
- Checks
Customer Service
If you need a helping hand, you can get in touch with Skybook via the following methods.
Email – There are two email addresses. You need to contact [email protected] for sportsbook inquiries and [email protected] for casino-related question or concerns.
Live Chat – This is the fastest way to get in touch. It only takes a few seconds to connect with an operator, and replies are professional and helpful.
Telephone – There are several numbers available if you prefer to pick up the phone.
- Call 1-888-759-2665 or 1-800-809-3246 for sportsbook questions
- Call 1-888-416-2642 for casino questions
I’m impressed with the customer service at Skybook. It’s a step up from what I usually experience at US-friendly gambling sites, and I found the entire process of getting answers fast and hassle-free.
Would I Play at Skybook Casino?
In a word, yes. I really like Skybook, and compared to many of the other US-friendly betting sites, it’s a dream to use.
I like that it offers legit casino games from a world-class provider; I do enjoy a punt on sports, so I’m happy to see a robust sportsbook; and the bonuses are well worth checking out, although I don’t like the “hold” periods on some of them.
Overall, if you’re looking for a solid gambling site which offers both casino games and sports betting and can tolerate it being basic in exchange for a superior user experience, I recommend Skybook.
The best way to find out if it’s for you is to check it out for yourself. Go ahead and do that now if you like the sound of it.
This review was made by: casino-guide.biz Rating: 4.38 out of 5