Sky Casino Review:

Sky is a media and sporting powerhouse, with a growing presence within the world of online gambling. Launched in 2014, Sky Casino is actually the brand’s second online casino product, following in the footsteps of Sky Vegas. It differs from its older sister in the fact that it’s a Playtech casino, but what the sites do have in common is that polished Sky shine that few other operators can match. Lavish in appearance and carrying the distinct Sky branding that we’ve all come to know, Sky Casino gives the impression of a site that’s worthy of serious attention, but how does it stand out in a sea of Playtech-powered casinos?

The familiar Sky logo that sits atop the website will be enough to reassure most British players that their money and personal data are in safe hands. Despite only launching in 2014, Sky Casino carries associations that would be the envy of most new casinos.

Those in the UK will be happy to see that Sky Casino comes with licensing and verification from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Outside of the UK, the base license of Sky Casino comes from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, which gives Sky Casino the green light to operate within select international markets.

If you wanted additional proof that Sky Casino is trustworthy and reliable, the site also has recognition from Verisign, ESSA, and the Independent Betting Arbitration Service. The only thing missing from this situation is an eCOGRA stamp, but in its absence there is certification from Technical Systems Testing (TST), which is approved by both Alderney and the UKGC.

Unfortunately, it’s unclear whether it is regularly tested, but to award top marks here we would expect it to be, and we would like to see clearer information provided on the Sky Casino site.

In terms of deposit and withdrawal methods Sky Casino is pretty light on options, although PayPal is available. According to player reports, the site is becoming noted for its super-fast withdrawal speeds too.

Sky Casino has show-stealing production values, but its welcome bonus is certainly not deserving of the same tag. When you register at Sky Casino, what awaits you is a ‘deposit with £10, play with £70’ deal. True, you get a good multiple of your deposit in bonus cash, but this an offer that really does nothing for anyone that has more than £10 put aside for an initial deposit.

Judging by what we’ve seen, things really don’t improve all that much when you delve into the terms and conditions of this particular deal. The wagering requirement is a lofty 50x for starts, which means that your back really is up against the wall from the outset. A time limit of 30 days is also in effect, so it’s a case of move it or lose it at Sky Casino

On top of all that, the marketing for the deal raises questions in our opinion. Within the promotional material, you’ll see the line “Whether you prefer to play Roulette, Blackjack, Live Dealers or Slots we have a welcome offer that suits you”. Yet within the small print, it’s clear that table and card games only contribute 20% towards wagering requirements. Not bad compared to some online casinos, where the wagering contribution for such games can be as little as 5%, but this is far from favorable to those that like playing at the tables in our opinion.

This bonus is pretty cut and dry, so it may suit novices who are looking for something no frills. That being said, experienced players – or those that enjoy table-based play – may find this deal to be quite frustrating.

For a simple site Sky Casino has some serious style with the UI lending itself to straightforward navigation as far as game selection is concerned.

While the fact that Sky Casino is limited to Playtech instant-play games means you get quite a lean catalogue to choose from, there is enough variety here to keep most players satisfied. This brand’s key objective is to bring members a taste of everything, so even though it can’t rival LeoVegas for sheer game numbers, it does serve up a focused collection of games seamlessly across all your devices.

For our money it’s the table game selection at Sky Casino that really is worthy of praise, as there are some seriously fun variations in the mix here. From Perfect Blackjack to Multi-Wheel Roulette, everything that takes place on the animated felt top seems to have an added pizzazz. There are multiple versions of the most popular table games, offering a range of stakes. You also get Age of the Gods Roulette, which comes with its own progressive jackpot.

Taking things to the next level, the live dealer aspect of Sky Casino is a real winner, offering multiple live games for both desktop and mobile. Aptly titled the Sky Live Casino, this pits you against real life dealers, going above and beyond the standard casino experience, with Baccarat and Casino Hold ‘Em rounding out the selection of online roulette and online blackjack tables.

If you are on the hunt for an online casino that’s driven by slot games you’ll be disappointed, as Sky Casino only has 70 titles to choose from. That being said, all of Playtech’s top titles are accounted for and it’s especially strong on progressive jackpot slots, including the DC Comics titles and Jackpot Giant. However, it would be nice if Sky Casino could add some instant-play games from other developers to round out the selection a little bit.

Finally Sky is a multi-platform site so there’s Sky Bet and Sky Poker which you can access from the same playing account.

The Sky Casino app for iOS can be easily downloaded from the App Store, or directly via the site for Android. Just visit the site from your phone and you’ll be presented with the option to download.

This offers up a pretty no frills experience, but it follows the same design language as the main site, which means it’s pretty easy to navigate. The game selection is pretty much complete, and on the payment method front you’ll find all the available options.

It’s worth noting that the Sky Casino presents much the same experience on the mobile site. Not that there’s anything wrong with the mobile site. It certainly looks the part and offers a good selection of the full site’s catalogue, including the live dealer selection.

If you want to get your hands on the biggest bonuses and promotions around, Sky Casino is where you need to be. Even once the ‘Welcome Bonus’ is in the rear view mirror, there always seems to be plenty of evergreen and limited-time offers to get stuck into on the promotions page.

For sheer simplicity, the “Enjoy 3 Golden Chips” promotion simply can’t be argued against. Opt-in, lay down a £1 bet on any Sky Casino game, and wait for the three golden chips to head your way. Sky Casino also has a penchant for delivering big headline-grabbing giveaways, with the Superman-themed £500,000 giveaway standing as proof of that.

At the time of review the site was offering a Daily Reload Bonus of 25% up to £12.50. Less of a headline grabber, sure, but with wagering requirements of 10x, we think it’s a fair, achievable bonus.

The ongoing Bonus Express promotion rewards players with free spins on a defined selection of slots based on how much money they stake on games. There is a fair 1x wagering requirement on any winnings that derive from the free spins.