Introduction to Virtual Sports
Virtual sports are electronic games based on actual sports. The virtual sports betting games themselves are never repeated and are streamed for wagering every few minutes. To make the games more realistic, the developers included commentators, crowds, and players. Close calls replay on the screen to the cheers or dismay of the masses. There appears to be very little difference between live and virtual sports. Some of your favourite teams may even have licensed virtual teams to use their names on some of the virtual sports betting sites.
Because the game is computer-generated, sportsbooks must follow laws for gambling games. This affects the types of bets you can place, and any betting markets that focus on people fall away. You can’t bet on who scored the first goal if there are no players, for example. Besides these changes, virtual sports betting has other options available too. But, as betting on virtual sports continues growing, the betting markets are sure to expand even further.
Virtual sports are still growing, and if you consider that the technology is still improving, there is a lot of room for future growth. But please, remember that a random number generator determines everything.
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The weather, players, or the course don’t make a difference to the game. This makes virtual sports betting more like slot games than live sports and appeals to some because skills or research are not required. This relative simplicity and the instant gratification punters experience make it very popular. All these reasons contribute to the growing popularity of virtual sports betting.
That is not to say that everything is the same; teams are designed with strengths, weaknesses, and minor events in their fictitious lives. The difficulty lies in that developers can’t recreate a course’s behaviour or a player’s form, at least not yet.
This limitation reduces the game’s realism, as there is no way to account for human behaviour or environmental conditions. Novice bettors often prefer this, as the odds on the team are the biggest consideration when placing a bet. It removes an element of skill that takes a lot of time and experience to gain. But some of the more experienced bettors see this as a crippling limitation and feel that the game is too simple and unrealistic to be fun. All this boils down to personal preference, and if that element of skill is appealing to you, virtual sports betting might not be your thing.
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.
Soccer
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.
Tennis
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.
Basketball
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.
Horse Racing
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. There are no real virtual sports betting tips in horse racing because the RNG determines everything, but it is gaining popularity due to its simplicity and visual splendour.
Greyhounds
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.
Racing
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.
Other Virtual Sports
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, Table Tennis, Badminton, and Archery.
Where to Bet on Virtual Sports?
Click here to see our article on the Most Trusted Bookmakers on Virtual Sports. We researched bookmakers offering virtual sports betting that has a good reputation and offer various banking options for different needs.
Bookie of the month
Rating
Virtual Sports
- Starting Bonus
- They have a mirror link
- Various payments
Up to €130 Welcome Promo
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Rating
Virtual Sports
- Available demo games
- An interesting design of the website
- Active mobile apps for Android & iOS
New Customer Bonus up to €80 + €20 Free Bet
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Rating
Virtual Sports
- Good odds
- Plenty of sports
- Helpful support team
125% up to €5000
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Rating
Virtual Sports
- Different bonuses
- Cash Out
- Different payment methods
Get Your Welcome Bonus
New Customers only. Registration required. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. +18 | Terms & Conditions time limits & exclusions apply.
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Rating
Virtual Sports
- Big variety of sports betting options
- Many slot games
- Live casino games with real dealers
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Rating
Virtual Sports
- High odds
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- Superb support
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New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. Free Bet awarded: £10. 1 x £10 must be wagered at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full Terms apply | gamstop.co.uk
Rating
Virtual Sports
- Big range of sport betting options
- High odds
- Casino games
Money back with Back-up Bet
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Pace 1 sport bet (3+ selections) } Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min odds 2/1 (3.0) for each selection | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | T&Cs apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk
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:
Tournaments and leagues
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.
Races
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.
Teams and players
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.
Live Streaming
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.
Game duration
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.
Results
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
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
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.
Every Matrix
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
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.
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