A SPORTS betting business formed in 2001 was today valued at £800m after broadcaster Sky sold a controlling stake in the operation.

Leeds-based Sky Bet, which also runs gaming websites such as Sky Vegas and the odds comparison site Oddschecker, will be 80 per cent owned by funds advised by CVC Capital Partners once the deal completes early next year.

Sky, which will receive an initial £600 million on completion of the deal, said the disposal will enable it to focus on the "significant opportunity" for growth in pay TV across the five European markets in which it operates.

Sky will retain a stake of about 20 per cent in the betting and gaming business and has entered into a long-term brand licence agreement with Sky Bet.

The broadcaster's chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: "In the last 10 years, we have successfully grown Sky Bet from a start-up to one of the leading online betting and gaming companies in the UK."

CVC has experience in the betting and gaming sector through previous investments in companies such as William Hill and IG Group.

Sky Bet will remain in Leeds with all staff moving to the new entity.

In the year to June, the business generated net revenues of £182m and profits before tax of £50m.

Sky now serves 20 million customers following the company's recent acquisition of Sky Italia and a majority interest in Sky Deutschland.