[genyes]

I just received an email from Skybook. I used them last year and had no problems at all. But with the shakeup in offshore sportsbooks I stopped using them. I see that Skybook has now dropped to B-. Why the drop? I'd like to go back to using them because of the free half point but I'm gun shy after the Cascade debacle. Appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

[jjgold]

They are ok, you will not get stiffed.

[bigboydan]

There a pretty solid book and all. I you won't get stiff at all as JJ mentioned about. However, I feel that most people realize that the free 1/2 point gimmick isn't really all that great, especially during hoops season.

[DrSlamm]

Hoops season is actually when the free 1/2 pt shines (except its only on fridays)

Ive never had any problems with skybook.. really the only problem is the somewhat high fees for withdrawal

[ritehook]

Hoops season is actually when the free 1/2 pt shines (except its only on fridays)

Ive never had any problems with skybook.. really the only problem is the somewhat high fees for withdrawal

All the above posts on Skybook are correct.

They do have higher than usual WD fees. But it's largely offset by a nice Free Play bonus.

Half pt is nice. I usually save/win a few bets per season with that option

[spliff]

decent book, I like them.

[SBR_John]

Probably under rated at B-. This book lost its A- rating a while back after constant management and ownership turmoil. They deserve a fresh look imo.

[HedgeHog]

Probably under rated at B-. This book lost its A- rating a while back after constant management and ownership turmoil. They deserve a fresh look imo.

Agree. I haven't asked for a withdrawal there since pre-Neteller, so I don't have any input in that respect. The free 1/2 point ($500 max, not allowed on/off 3 & 7) has saved me a number of times--especially on /off 4, 10, & 14. Anybody recently withdraw from Skybook; just wondering how quickly they pay.

[louis]

I would not play at this book. There were numerous serious complaints (do a search). The B- rating is probably exactly where it should be.

[ritehook]

I did a withdrawal from Skybook in early April, after the NCAAs.

By check, and it arrived within a week. Sent from the U.S., drawn on a US bank.

[HedgeHog]

I would not play at this book. There were numerous serious complaints (do a search). The B- rating is probably exactly where it should be.

Please expand. What exactly is the problem?

[louis]

Well, I did a search on the forum and back in August of 2006, back when we were able to use neteller, they put a limit of $1000 at a time on neteller withdrawals. It was also reported that email was going unanswered for days at a time. SBR dropped their rating to B-.

Instead of responding to the dropped rating by taking corrective action, SBR has been unable to move their rating back up. It is bothersome that a book doesn't care what SBR thinks of them.

(The same thing goes for ABC Islands which when dropped from B+ to B simply ignored it; Books that don't care about their reputation scare me.)

Back to Skybook, there was also allegations that they are or were associated with Betmania, a sportsbook that took months to pay customers their balances, and also imposed ridiculous withdawal limits and fees, and cancelled winning bets. Betmania's SBR rating was dropped from around B to D -. Skybook has had trouble deciding whether or not they are associated with Betmania. First they are; later when money was going unpaid they were not.

Skybook may be fine now for small to perhaps mid range bettors, but I would be cautious putting in large amounts that they may not be able or want to pay; they seem to be a small operation now, not like the others and they did not have the capability or willingness to respond to SBR's concerns.

[mkultra]

Can anyone else response to Louis comments here? I just started betting at Skybook because I like the freeplay terms, the customer service has been really fast and nice, and they process bank wires up to 5k for $100 fee and they appear to arrive much faster then Bookmaker. As such it is a good place for me to make bigger cashouts after doing book-to-books from Olympic and Bookmaker. This post made me nervous. Is this not the kind of place I want to have a balance >2-3k or so? I've been impressed so far but I've only done a few transactions cashier wise.

[panther11]

Can anyone else response to Louis comments here? I just started betting at Skybook because I like the freeplay terms, the customer service has been really fast and nice, and they process bank wires up to 5k for $100 fee and they appear to arrive much faster then Bookmaker. As such it is a good place for me to make bigger cashouts after doing book-to-books from Olympic and Bookmaker. This post made me nervous. Is this not the kind of place I want to have a balance >2-3k or so? I've been impressed so far but I've only done a few transactions cashier wise.

I've been on quite a run at Skybook for about the past month. My balance has been between 20 to 30k the whole time. I've been making the 5k per week max for book to book transfers to either the Greek or CRIS while also withdrawing 1K a day through Neteller. I still haven't experienced any problems on the withdrawal end.
My only issue is that they accept fairly large wagers; Up to 5K on NFL ML or spreads, however, their withdrawal limits through methods such as Neteller or book to book transfers are some what low. Being that I've been on quite a run, my balance there is much larger than I need it to be and I can't withdraw it right away.

[jjgold]

Solid update Panther

Thanks

[prop]

I've used skybook plenty. Cash out speed has always been acceptable to very good.
I'm no expert on the behind the scenes type stuff but as a player with a lot of experience with them, and also as an affiliate of theirs with a only fifty or so players under that site, I'd give them a solid B rating. again no idea on behind the scene stuff so which SBR would not better so I trust SBR B- rating - seems close enough anyways.

[mkultra]

Thanks, Panther. Nice info.

I was kind of hoping to hear they made special cash out arrangements with bigger players. It is a little strange to only be able to wire 5k a week when you can bet 10k on NFL sides, etc, if I'm not mistaken. Being stuck with money at a book you can't move or use is never a good thing. Fortunately 5k a week is enough for me but I could see running up a balance there being a little inconvenient. Is the Neteller cashout limit really that low? I'll go look I'm surprised to hear that.

[eyeball]

Do some of the experts here think the 1/2 point is really worth it? I have read some posts that said you could get the same 1/2 point somewhere else.

[HedgeHog]

Do some of the experts here think the 1/2 point is really worth it? I have read some posts that said you could get the same 1/2 point somewhere else.

I'm no expert, but it does make a difference to me for NFL lines on/off 10, 11, and 14. I been saved by the free half on these numbers several times over the years. Even if the same line existed elsewhere, often it's weighted (i.e. +10 -120) heavier than the -110 at Skybook or I may simply not have access to a Book that has the same favorable line.

[prop]

If you're a line shopped who uses a lot of sports books to get the best line each time then the 1/2 point is nice. I think signing up for Skybook as one of just a few outs because of the 1/2 point would be foolish during football season.
The 1/2 point on Fridays is big though because in hoops 1/2 points are worth more - I would consider them a great option of people with just a few outs if you bet hoops.
Pretty much there like my 7-9th choice for football and 3rd-5th for hoops.

[eyeball]

I set up an account with them today and everything went smooth. They gave me the 50% sign up bonus, 5X rollover. Everyone there was very helpfull and actually I felt the service wa just as good as the A books, maybe better.. I guess we will see when I try to cash iout The best thing I like was tht I did not have to talk to 4 people to get things done, and everyone spoke english perfectly...we will see

[katstale]

Fast payouts. Fees per payout thru NT is ridiculous.

Just opt for their reduced juice all the time option (-107 I believe) and they are a decent mid-range option.

[robmpink]

Still for totals too right? Got key numbers here too, nice to get an extra 1/2 on and off #'s like 37 and other popular totals.

not on totals

[greg66]

They banned me 3 years ago. Loved that 1/2 point in hoops.