Guide to Virtual Sports Betting
Virtual sports are computer-generated simulations of real sports. Events run every few minutes, with a broadcast-style commentary and replays. Unlike real sports, virtuals are based on random numbers, meaning their outcomes are entirely based on probabilities and not players, weather, or form.
Because the results are RNG-driven, you won’t find any specific markets. However, you’ll get all the basic options—match winner, totals, forecasts, spreads, and handicaps. The most appealing option is that there are matches every few minutes, so this means you can basically use it whenever you want. In addition, simplicity is what makes it huge among customers.
If you are just starting out and you are looking for a solid virtual sports betting guide that can help you understand how things work, you are right where you should be. In this guide, we will cover how virtual sports betting works so you can build confidence before staking real money.
Where to Bet on Virtual Sports?
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What type of virtual sports exists?
The virtual sports betting games on offer are as different as the sportsbooks themselves. Did you ever want to bet on a camel race? Some virtual sports betting sites offer that option, amongst many more.
Below you will find a list of some of the most popular virtual sports betting events, followed by a summary.
If you plan on betting, please keep in mind that the main virtual sports betting tips revolve around the odds and managing your bankroll. When betting on a virtual sports game, the odds are your most important consideration. The odds significantly influence the random number generator, which is what determines the results of each game.
Virtual football has several types of bets available, with pioneering visuals and commentary. The replays let it down a bit, as does the fact that real teams are only available in the international version. The outcome of the game is dependant on the virtual football betting algorithm. Soccer is one of the most popular virtual sports, with a wide selection of odds available to punters.
Most virtual tennis matches use pretty good graphics and take place over a single game, and while tennis fans will enjoy it, the limited time of play makes betting a bit more complicated.
Betting on a virtual basketball game is similar to betting on a live one, with many of the same markets. As in most virtual sports events, though, there is no human factor to account for in the game, which removes some markets. You can bet on the winner, total points, the winning margin, and other such bets, but the first or last goal is not an option as no player-centric bets are available.
Virtual horse racing is a simulation of a horse race that allows punters to bet on the outcome before watching the race play out in perfectly rendered form on the screen. The significant difference is that a computer algorithm determines the result; the course, the horse, and the jockey are not factors. Favourites have more chances to win, and longshots have fewer, but the random number generator chooses a series of numbers, and the corresponding horses will win in that order, which is then played out on the screen. Bets are often restricted to outright wins, each way, and one or two other markets, making it crucial to understand the odds.
Virtual greyhound racing is one of the more realistic games available with first-rate graphics and sound effects. There is a vibrancy to the game that thrills the bettors and somehow creates an authentic dog race environment. The betting markets are very similar to those for the live game, with a few notable exceptions.
Of all the virtual sports games, the motor racing one is perhaps the best for sound and graphics. The commentary is generic and not up to the same standard. A further detraction is that the random number generator doesn’t link outcomes for teams, resulting in no team driving. So it is every car for itself, which impacts the thrill of the game and the realism.
Virtual sports have provided a platform for everyone who wants to bet on sports and this has offered limitless opportunities to the punters. You will get almost all sports, and we believe that there will be more sports on offer soon. More sports that you get in the virtual sports betting spectrum will be Velodrome, Trotting, Speedway, Table Tennis, Badminton, and Archery.
Most Popular Betting Markets
Virtual sports usually have a lot of markets available. These options cover most of the parameters that we are used to seeing in other sports. We usually see some of the following popular virtual sports online betting markets when browsing.
- Winner of the Match/Race (Moneyline) –This bet is a money line wager where you back one player or team to win. For example, if the odds for a tennis match are: Player A at 1.80 and Player B at 2.00, then if you bet $100 on Player A, you’ll receive $180 if he wins. The same wager on Player B would return $200 on his win.
- Handicap Markets –Handicap betting is where the bookmaker assigns a handicap to competitors. For example, if Soccer Team A is set at 3.50, a Draw at 3.40, and Team B is at 2.20, the bookmaker might offer these handicap odds Team B +1: 1.30, Team B -1: 4.33, and Team B -2: 11.00. The +1 means adding a goal to Team B’s score for betting purposes. So the odds are reduced as Team B is the underdog and more likely to win with an added goal.
- Totals (Goals/Games/Points) –Totals are where the bookmaker sets a line for the total points or goals scored in a game. You can then bet on whether the total will be over or under this. If the totals line is 44.5, you will need 45 points if you backed the Over to win.
- Forecast/Tricast(Racing/Greyhounds) –Forecast bets deal with who comes in first and second place of the race. A straight forecast is where you choose a name for first and another name for second place. A reverse forecast is when you select two names without any order to who comes first. And finally, a combination forecast is when you choose three or more names to place first and second. Tricast bets are like Forecast bets, but a tricast bet deals with the first three places, not the first two.
- Double Chance(1X/X2/12) –Double Chance betting gives you a better chance of winning since you can use it to cover two of the possible three outcomes.
- Correct Score/ HT-FT –A Correct Score bet is on the exact score at the end of the game. It is hard to get right, so the odds are increased, and the payout also increases, making this an attractive but risky bet.
- Half-time Result –A Half-Time bet is on who will be in the lead at half-time, with odds displayed something like Team A, Half-Time 2.2, Full Time 1.61. As a punter, you will be looking for value, so the half-time odds for Team A are more appealing than Full time.
- Winning Margin/Podium (Motorsport) –Bet on victory bands or top-X finish.
Why Bet on Virtual Sports?
Virtual Sports are an innovative and new form of entertainment, still in their infancy stages when compared to other forms of sports betting. Some of the advantages are that you have more betting options, and you can bet whenever you want. With virtual sports games running year-round, you can bet on a beloved sport even if it is not in season at that time. It is also easier to bet on virtual sports because you won’t need to research the players, the course, or statistics.
- Pros
- Online virtual sports sites offer new sports listings more often, depending on the site.
- Another plus for virtual sports games is that they only last a few minutes, and the stream is usually of very high quality.
- Virtual sports betting sites can also teach you more about the different bets and understanding odds.
- No research needed on injuries/form/weather; basically no learning curve.
- Cons
- Betting on virtual sports games is not as thrilling as betting on an actual game because there is no emotional connection to the team or player.
- Betting on virtual sports games does not have the complexity of betting on real sports, which is great for the novice, but the more experienced bettor feels like having a hand tied behind their back.
- Finally, the worst of the disadvantages is that it can be challenging to manage your bankroll, and there’s the temptation to spend more or increase your bets, which is not recommended.
Important Factors to Consider
When you start betting on virtual sports, there are a few things to keep in mind. Below we explain what factors you should consider and why they are essential.
Virtual sports games are entirely computer-generated; at no point in the programming of the software are human elements or stats added. There is no way to program in the weather or the course’s behaviour, and teams do not have an advantage if they play on their home grounds. The odds are the most significant consideration you have when placing a bet.
All outcomes of virtual sports games result from a Random Number Generator using an algorithm and seed number with the odds programmed in, which means that the numbers are random and cannot be predicted.
The best virtual sports betting sites will provide the statistics and the odds, and these are the only things that can influence the outcome of a virtual sports game. Look for trends in the statistics, and use them to your advantage.
The odds are better if you bet on the underdog since you can make more if you win on a bet. Let’s look at a previous example: Player A’s odds are at 1.80, and Player B is at 2.00, so if you bet $100 on Player A, it returns $180 if he wins. The same wager on Player B would return $200 on his win. The profit is higher with better odds, but the risk is higher too, so remember to check the statistics first and manage your bankroll.
Football, or soccer, is one of the most popular virtual sports games to bet on. It offers more games, has better odds, and more types of bets available than any other virtual sport. There are also Leagues and Tournaments available on online virtual sports betting sites.
Features
Virtual sports are not similar to other casino games or real-life sports in some aspects, and this is the reason we found it wise for us to breakdown a couple of features that make them unique. Below are some of the features that we believe make these events unique:
Virtual sports are available throughout and do not rely on any seasons or leagues. But this does not mean that you will not find simulations of the leagues you are used to. You will come across leagues and tournaments even during your virtual sports betting. Visit your bookie of choice to get the different tournaments and leagues available for you.
As for the races, you will find them in the dog racing and horse racing categories. They are available, and the good thing is that they are listed after every two to three minutes. This is an indicator that you will always have a race to bet on.
The teams and players you find on virtual sporting events are similar to those of in real-life sports. As we mentioned earlier, virtual sports are simulations of real sporting events. This is why you will find teams and players you are used to in real life featured in the virtual sports events, but note that there is no connection between them in case of results.
One thing that you realize with virtual sports is that all of them are streamed. You will watch every move. The live stream will, without a doubt, complement your betting experience. The providers in the virtual sports industry are doing their best in making sure that you get the best streams by making sure that the visuals and graphics are top-notch.
The duration of the game will depend on the sport, but the virtual sports events will not take the same time as real sports. They will take a few minutes, and you will have new events updated on the listings every two to three minutes.
In most cases, you realize that the virtual sports providers will have statistics and analysis of the players or teams. This is similar to the statistical information you find on other computer-generated games in casinos or video games.
Virtual Sports Facts and History
The first attempt at virtual sports was an early form of fantasy baseball played on a computer in a lab in 1961. The first virtual sports game has been around since 1972 when Atari came out with Pong, a simulation of table tennis, or Ping Pong. Since then, many friends have wagered on virtual sports games developed for PCs or Consoles in the comfort of the lounge.
One of the most prominent players in online virtual sports launched in 2001. For many years virtual sports betting online was a small market, and then in 2020, the majority of live sports events were cancelled, leaving bettors with nothing to wager on. Virtual sports betting stepped forward as another option.
There were two other options available, though, fantasy sports and e-sports. Fantasy sports is where people take real players and create dream teams; this means that the players are based on a human being’s performance. The best betting strategy is to analyze the stats, which turn it into a game of skill. E-sports have a human player behind the avatar, with the same result. However, in virtual sports, the players are based on outcomes from a random number generator with no optimal betting strategy. So when it comes to the law, this game is just another RNG game.
Virtual sports betting sites became the most popular because it was easier, fun, familiar to the gaming crowd, and you did not have to wait for a game.
Providers of Virtual Sports Games
Virtual sports betting is a unique form of betting, and some providers have specialized in the provision of virtual sports. Software providers play a huge role in making sure that you get the best gameplay. The software company will determine whether your experience will be worthwhile or not. They are responsible for the graphics and animations you receive in your gameplay.
Nsoft is one of the software providers offering virtual sports services in betting platforms. They boast of more than ten years’ experience in the world of online gambling, with over two hundred employees working in the background to make sure that your experience is worthwhile. Nsoft has gone the extra mile to make sure that they have made solid partnerships for further developments. Through their partnerships with the world’s leading sports data providers like Sportradar, they have been able to get their products out to the punters.
Golden Race was established to offer sports betting services in 2006. They boast of license sales exceeding 8,000 in the world of dog racing. This prompted them to launch more products in the virtual betting arena. All these successes have not gone unnoticed. In 2016 they won an SBC award for the Best New Virtual Sports products for their real fighting game. They also scoped another award for the Best Virtual Football product for their great delivery of the World Cup, and this was an Award they won two years in a row.
EveryMatrix is an independent company responsible for offering award-winning software solutions in the online gambling industry. The company was established in 2008. The company has been doing its best to come up with the best market-leading solutions in the world of iGaming. Some of their products are MoneyMatrix, PartnerMatrix, GamMatrix, CasinoEngine, and OddsMatrix.
Betradar is known to offer some of the betting services, and virtual betting is one of them. They have their services in more than 180 online bookies. Virtual sports is one of their top products, and a lot of research and development has been put into the design and analysis to make sure that you get the best for a realistic experience. You are sure to get statistics and odds as you get them on real sports.
Conclusion
It´s its early days, and virtual sports betting is still growing into its potential. But live sports events will likely be scarce for a while, and virtual sports betting events fills the gap. Considering the popularity of video games, it is no surprise that virtual sports are popular. The games are faster, and in some cases, every three to four minutes, and the technology is improving. We are seeing the first baby steps taken by the virtual sports betting industry, and all indicators are that it will grow much larger.
FAQs
Is betting on virtual sports rigged?
No, virtual sports events are not rigged. Experienced oddsmakers determine odds, and you are betting against them.
How do virtual sports work?
A random number generator determines the outcomes by using a complex algorithm based on predetermined odds. The results are then translated into a visual format using 3D graphics to show the game or race.
Are Random Number Generators certified?
Independent third parties test RNG to ensure that they are not predictable and that operators have not influenced them; if the RNG meets these criteria, it gets certified by that lab. Certification is often required in regulated markets to operate legally.
Is betting on Virtual Sports legal?
The best way to check if virtual sports betting is legal in your state is to check your local sportsbooks and see what they are offering. The more prominent sportsbooks keep up to date with local laws and ensure that they comply with them, as it is not worth the risk to face a possible fine. Their licenses will also stipulate what they are offering and is another way to check for legality.
