SBK is a brand new sports betting app launched by Smarkets in late 2019. The SBK brand is a mobile-only sport betting product but comes with many unique features including betting tips, leaderboards, low odds, auto accas and much more.
The SBK betting app is the offering from Smarkets for its users who want to place wagers while out and about, but how does it work and how can people get it onto their devices?
Mobile betting continues to grow in popularity in the UK, with many companies in the industry launching betting apps in a bid to take advantage of the rapid rise in this part of the sector.
Among them is Smarkets, which is primarily known as a betting exchange but also runs a more typical sportsbook, which is good news for customers who would like to use both.
Those questions and much more will be answered in our full review of the SBK betting app for players from the UK, so read on for everything that you need to know about the software.
New SBK customers can claim the bet 10 get 30 bonus using our exclusive promo code "BettingLounge" during sign up.
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While Smarkets does not have the same public profile as industry rival Betfair, the company still runs one of the best betting exchanges in the world, with SBK its latest leap forward.
Interestingly, Smarkets describes itself as a technology company first and foremost. Tech has always been at the heart of Smarkets products, so users should expect the SBK betting app to be among the best around and the software is well on the way to meeting those expectations.
Work on Smarkets began in 2008 with founders Hunter Morris and Jason Trost setting up the company. Trost remains a key person at Smarkets, acting as its public figurehead to this day.
The first version of Smarkets was launched the following year, but the company's products have continued to evolve over the course of the last decade, with the SBK betting app being released to the public in 2019. This was after a long beta testing period, which lasted about 12 months.
On its website, Smarkets claims that the SBK app offers "industry-disrupting odds" with the prices that are offered compared to those that are available on the firm's betting exchange.
"We are extremely excited to fully launch SBK having made substantial improvements since the beta introduction last year," said Trost, who is the chief executive at Smarkets, at the time.
The aim of the SBK app is to ensure that Smarkets - which is backed by Passion Capital and Deutsche Telekom - can continue to develop its reputation in the online sports betting world.
Smarkets is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority of Malta, while its customers in the UK are licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission for products including the SBK app.
In terms of safety and security, Smarkets transactions all use Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) in order to protect the information of the firm's customers.
The SBK betting apps for iOS and Android are both considered to be extremely strong options.
Among the key unique selling points of the Smarkets product is SBK Price+, which shows when the odds available on the app are the best around - and even when they are not. Due to the fact that the SBK markets have odds from the Smarkets betting exchange, the odds here tend to be among the very best, with SBK Price+ showing how confident Smarkets is that this is the case.
One of the other things that make SBK betting apps different compared to the offerings from rivals in the industry is that the software hosts a community-led social network. Users have the chance to share their own betting tips for other SBK customers to follow. It is even possible to see which players are on a hot streak, which adds extra interest in the tips that they offer.
A competitive element to this part of the SBK betting app is provided by a leaderboard as well, with customers of Smarkets able to see how they are performing compared to their friends. Many people like to read betting tips before deciding what wagers to place, so the fact these can be found within the SBK betting apps themselves will be a big tick in the box for a lot of users.
Existing customers at Smarkets will be familiar with the app's layout while those who sign up for a new account can deposit £10 and get £30 in free bets just for joining this site. Keep in mind that making the first deposit by Skrill, Neteller, PayPal will not qualify a customer for the deal.
In terms of the actual sportsbook on the SBK betting apps, it is fair to say they do not perhaps have quite as many potential bets available as the software from some of the top operators. However, features such as the auto acca are a great addition most other sites/apps do not have.
Those who want to place simple bets on football and horse racing will find the app has everything they need, but anyone who likes to go deeper and place more unusual bets than backing a team to win a match or a horse to win a race might end up being disappointed. American sports are covered well on the SBK betting apps with NFL, MLB and NBA all offered.
Live betting is included, naturally, while the app is home to live scores with rapid data updates so that Smarkets customers can keep a close eye on how all the action is progressing. That said, while the data is very helpful, there is no live streaming on the SBK betting apps, which means the software is lagging behind alternative options such as the apps from Betfair.
It is worth noting the extra security measures that are included for SBK betting app users. With 2-Factor Authentication in place, this means the apps are very safe and secure to use.
While the SBK betting apps are not quite yet the full package, what is good is that Smarkets is constantly updating the software with new features and ideas. Smarkets asks users to put forward feedback to help them to make the SBK betting apps even better, so it will certainly be worth keeping a close eye out to see what additions are made in the coming months and years.
Downloading the SBK betting app for iOS devices is quick and easy to do as the software can be found on the App Store, though it will only work on iPhones and iPads.
The SBK betting app is one of the top options of its type on the App Store, having earned a number of very positive reviews from those who have downloaded it onto their devices.
Downloading the SBK betting app for iOS works in the same way as adding any other app from the App Store, so users should simply follow the same process.
The app will be installed automatically, which means that Smarkets customers can quickly get up and running using the SBK betting app to start placing wagers while on the move.
Those who are yet to sign up for an account with Smarkets can also join using the app, with a generous sign-up welcome bonus on offer right now for those who opt to do this.
Just as it is with the SBK betting app for iOS, downloading the SBK betting app for Android is a simple process that should not take more than a couple of minutes.
The SBK betting app for Android is on the Play Store, where many users have left positive reviews about their experiences using the software on their preferred mobile devices.
Android users have access to the same functionality as those who are with iOS, with the SBK betting app looking exactly the same across the two major operating systems.
Downloading the SBK app through the App Store works in the same way as getting any other software from the same source.
Just tap the button on the relevant page on the Play Store to download the SBK app and it will be automatically installed as soon as the download has been completed.
Smarkets customers on Android can then login and start betting immediately, while there is also the option to sign up for an account for those who are yet to join this online betting company.
The alternative way of downloading the SBK betting app for Android is to get it directly from the Smarkets landing page which you will find if you click our "Claim" link above.
With the apk hosted on the Smarkets website, Android users can grab the SBK betting app in this way as long as they have changed their device's settings to allow this type of download.
The SBK betting apps offer users the chance to make deposits and withdrawals through their accounts, so there is no need to head to the main Smarkets website in order to do this.
A £10 minimum deposit is in place for most of the payment methods that are available, including debit cards and e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller. PayPal is an outlier, with a minimum deposit of £20 at Smarkets, while Trustly users will have to deposit at least £40 in one go.
All of the above banking methods boast immediate deposits, with bank transfer the last to mention. This is not particularly popular due to the fact it takes between three and five business days for them to be processed into a Smarkets account. The minimum deposit here is also £10.
On the withdrawal side for users of the SBK betting app, there is, unfortunately, no way to take out a lower amount than £10, but this is standard in the industry. The £10 minimum withdrawal for Smarkets customers is in place for banking options including PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and debit cards like Visa, MasterCard and Maestro, which can all be used on the SBK app.
Trustly users have to withdraw at least £40 at SBK, while the minimum withdrawal for those using a bank transfer is £20. The only withdrawal option at Smarkets that comes with a fee is bank transfer, with £10 needing to be paid by those taking this option on the SBK betting app.
Unusually, Smarkets actually makes a recommendation over which banking method is the best to use its platform, including on the SBK betting apps. Due to the fact, there are instant free deposits and unlimited withdrawals, Smarkets says in a brief statement on its official website that the company "strongly recommends using a Visa debit card as your payment option".
Anyone who has an issue when they are using the SBK betting app has a range of customer support options to try, but the first place for them to go to is the SBK Help Centre.
At the SBK Help Centre, many users will be able to find a solution to their particular problems. However, those who are still struggling do not have to worry as they can instead get in touch with customer service agents by using the SBK betting app on either iOS or Android.
Live chat is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, while social media users can head to the @SmarketsTech to get support regarding an issue with their Smarkets account.
It is also possible to get help over email - customer service agents can be contacted through the support@smarkets.com address - while writing to Smarkets by post with a query is another option. The address to write to Smarkets is 1 Commodity Quay, St. Katharine Docks, London, E1W 1AZ - but most people will be able to get the help they need instantly with the SBK app.
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