Sky Bet Sponsors Leeds Rhinos Netball

Sky Bet is has struck a deal to sponsor the Leeds Rhinos Netball team – and support their push to become one of the best professional women’s teams in the sport.

The UK’s leading sports betting and gaming operator has agreed a one year deal with the squad – who play their headline games at the Leeds First Direct Arena.

Leeds Rhinos compete in the Netball Super League, the UK’s domestic league consisting of 10 teams across the country. The NSL has an ambition to make the sport professional by 2025.

The team traces its roots back to Leeds Beckett who disbanded in 2016 due to a lack of funding.

The Sky Bet sponsorship comes with netball on the rise as a sport with over 3 million people playing annually and a TV audience of nearly 6 million watching this summer’s Netball World Cup.

Sky Bet is part of Flutter UKI – which employs more than 2,000 staff at its Leeds HQ in Wellington Place. Flutter’s other brands include Paddy Power, Betfair, tombola and Poker Stars.

Ben Turnbull of Leeds Rhinos said: “Sky Bet’s support for Leeds Rhinos Netball is a huge boost for the team and sport in the region.

“Like many other sports, commercial investment is vital for netball. Sky Bet will help raise the profile of the Rhinos franchise and netball in Leeds. Our local ties will also allow Sky Bet and Flutter UKI employees to enjoy Rhinos games and engage with community activities.”

Sky Bet’s sponsorship agreement comes just weeks after the company teamed up with the British Heart Foundation to launch a nationwide campaign to encourage 270,000 people to learn lifesaving CPR. Sky Bet is also the title sponsor of the English Football League and last year launched a £1 million Building Foundations Fund with the EFL to provide much-needed money for community projects linked to the 72 clubs in the Football League