Beginners Guide to Virtual Sports Betting

Virtual sports are anything but new to the online gaming community. Dating back to 1961, when the first fantasy baseball match was developed, the sport is recognized by almost every country in the world. It is within the past 3 decades that virtual sports took over the iGaming market. Fuelling this progression is the evolution of computer technologies, coupled with the turbo-fast internet systems available across the globe.

If you’re an avid sports fan, this information is no news. However, for fresh faces, it’s crucial to understand every aspect of the game. Many bookies offer welcome bonuses to first-time punters, so you can put your game face on and take advantage of such rewards. Since there’s no such thing as a free meal, watch out for T&Cs tied to the offer. But that’s just half of it. Our guide will break down the golden rules for a wholesome virtual sports betting experience.

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Understanding the rules

virtual sports guide

Inherent to real sports activities, virtual sports events come with a string of regulations. These serve to protect the interests of both parties. So, it’s of the utmost importance to research and fully comprehend the rules of the game. Furthermore, virtual sporting rules serve as guidelines on how to strike a lucky bet. Deficient of a detailed understanding of the sport, you’ll be stuck playing a million times over without any luck.

Note that virtual sports betting rules differ according to the type of sporting activities. However, there are a few general rules shared across titles. To save you time surfing the internet searching for these rules, we’ve narrowed down all the basics.

  • Bets are placed before the onset of the event.
  • Results are displayed on-screen after every match.
  • In cases of technical glitches, all bets are considered void, and refunds are made to customers. This applies when the match fails to start or finish.

Types of Virtual Sports

virtual sports betting types

Virtual sports have been on the rise in the past few years. While the underlying reason remains a subject for discussion, many reviews point towards competition in the market. The technological advancement in the industry cannot be dismissed. With these key factors being established, you’ll notice that almost every virtual sport strongly resembles its physical counterpart. Whether you enjoy football, tennis or horse racing, you’ll find a virtual variant with similar rules. Some virtual sports outcomes are determined using an RNG, while others are played out on video gaming consoles.

Virtual Football

Football is undeniably a champion in the sports arena. It’s only natural that the virtual version of the sport closely follows. The condensed version of land-based sports also attracts millions of gamers across the globe. Virtual sports betting sites, therefore, offer a wide range of markets for this game. For football fanatics, virtual sports games bring to life the fantasy of actively partaking in the sacred sport. Punters can bet on the winning team, kick back and hope to make a success.

Virtual Tennis

With more people boarding the virtual ship, it comes as no surprise that tennis is available in almost every virtual sports betting online lobby. Being one of the most popular sports in the world, the sport has multiple virtual betting options, from the win market to the total score. As simple as this sounds, there is no definite way of striking it lucky.

Virtual Basketball

A staple in the American market, virtual basketball is also available in almost every sportsbook. The online sport allows the opportunity to bask in the spotlight as the next LeBron James. Virtual basketball tournaments take a few minutes, so there’s a game at play every second of the day. Similar to the real-life NBA, virtual basketball has seasons that comprise 30 rounds. A champion is crowned at the end of the set period. As a punter, you can wager on the ultimate champion or on each round.

Virtual Horse Racing

If mounting horses suits your fancy, then virtual horse racing tournaments might be your chance to grab your winning chance. Joining virtual sports betting sites that feature this game allows you to put your feet up and stream tournaments from the comfort of your home. The adrenaline kick that comes with watching your favourite horse racing down the track is not compromised. To enhance the sport, most iGaming sites have tournaments running every 2 to 3 minutes. So, the betting markets are unlimited. The only limit is your bankroll. A few examples of virtual horse racing include tricast, combination bets, and the full forecast.

Virtual Greyhounds

Virtual greyhound betting runs as fast as the participants. Having been originally bred as hunting dogs, greyhounds run an average of 72 km/h. As such, betting on the sport sounds like a fun and exciting experience. The money-spinning tournaments are just icing on the cake. Virtual greyhound betting markets are as broad as any other popular sport. The most common include forecast, each way, race winner, tricast, combination bets, and more!

Virtual Racing

An adrenaline-loaded sport for professionals and amateurs alike, virtual racing tournaments will have you on the edge of the seat for hours. Seasonal gamers have probably heard of the forklift driver who went toe to toe against a professional racer and came out triumphant. This is one of many jaw-dropping experiences recorded on the greatest moments of virtual racing. Punters have the choice to bet on races against the clock or against teams of professional virtual racers.


Are Virtual Sports Legit?

Yes, virtual sports are legitimate as long as you are using a legitimate gambling website. All big names work with popular software studios that develop different types of virtual sports. The results you see on your screen are determined by an RNG system.

Similar to casino games, some V-sports are more volatile than others. Gambling is risky no matter what you want on, and these options aren’t an exception, so you need to be responsible.


Where to find Virtual Sports betting websites?

Rating: 5.0/5
Virtual Sports
  • Trusted Online Betting Website
  • Licensed by the UKGC
  • Best Sports Betting Features
  • High Odds
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. #Advertisement
Rating: 4.9/5
Virtual Sports
  • Trusted & Secure Online Betting Site
  • Competitive Sports Betting Odds and Markets
  • Great Range of Casino Games
  • Professional Customer Support
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: 4.2/5
Virtual Sports
  • An amazing sportsbook
  • Superb bonus offers
  • Cash-out feature available
  • Mobile apps
18+ | New Players only | Get up to £50 in FreeBets, an Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins and £10 Casino Bonus when you sign up to Sportingbet today. | T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating: 4.6/5
Virtual Sports
  • Extensive sports library
  • High odds
  • Separate apps for sports, casino, and poker
  • Fully legal and licensed
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
Rating: 4.9/5
Virtual Sports
  • Trusted online betting site
  • Great range of Sports Betting markets
  • Top-class Customer service
  • Various Payment methods
New customers using Promo Code R30 only. Min £10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3 x £10 free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment methods/player/country restrictions apply. 18+ T&C apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating: 4.4/5
Virtual Sports
  • Trusted & Licensed UK Brand
  • Great Customer Support
  • Competitive Odds
  • Various Sports Betting Features
18+. UK Customers (Excluding NI) only. Cash stakes only. Min £10 stake required for initial £5 free bet. Min odds ½. Max £25 in free bets. Subsequent free bets equal 50% average of each 3 £5 max qualifying bets. 13 settled bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed on sportsbook within 30 days of opening account. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake. One free bet offer per customer, household or IP address only. Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. 18+. T&Cs apply. | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk
Rating: 4.7/5
Virtual Sports
  • Trusted Betting Site
  • Great Range of Daily Sports Betting Markets
  • Live Streaming & Other Features are Available
  • Mobile App for Android and iOS
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min Dep £10. Debit cards only. Opt in for bonus funds. Wagering, sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply. | 18+ | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating: 4.7/5
Virtual Sports
  • Trusted & Licensed UK Brand
  • A wide array of promotions
  • Various Sports betting features
  • Various payment options
New UK 18+ only. Register with promo code WELCOME40, Bet £10+ on Sports in one transaction. Get £30 Free Bets & £10 free spins within 10hrs of bet settlement. Bonuses expire 7 days after issue. Min odds, eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating: 4.5/5
Virtual Sports
  • Good welcome offer
  • Active cash-out option
  • Plenty of sports
New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager 8 times deposit + bonus, max qualifying bet equal to initial bonus amount; valid for 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles or 2/5 per acca leg; Some bet types excluded; See full terms; 18+ begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating: 4.6/5
Virtual Sports
  • UKGC Licensed Bookmaker
  • Wide Range of Sports Betting Options
  • Competitive Odds
  • Professional Support
18+ Opt in, bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+). No cash out. Get 6x£5 football free bets at specified odds for set markets, 7 days expiry. Valid from 12:00 UK Time on 25/08/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs apply | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Please gamble responsibly
Rating: 4.2/5
Virtual Sports
  • Cash out option is available
  • Modern and stylish approach
  • Huge selection of games from several providers
Bet £10 Get £10 Free Acca Bet | T&Cs apply. New players only. Qualifying bet(s) must have minimum odds of 4.0 and must be settled before triggering free bet. Free Bet must be used on an accumulator with 3 or more selections. 18+ | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Rating: 4.1/5
Virtual Sports
  • More than 20 sports available
  • Wide range of betting features
  • Boosted odds for singles and multi-bet
  • Virtual sports section
18+ T&C apply | Play Responsibly
Rating: 4.1/5
Virtual Sports
  • A licensed and trustworthy operator
  • Good live-streaming coverage
  • Reliable and fast support
  • VIP Club available
18+ T&C apply | Play Responsibly

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With virtual sports betting online platforms popping up daily, companies have difficulty dominating the market. You’ll find that almost every primary website hosts virtual sports events. As exciting it may sound, locating the ideal website has never been this difficult. Cybercrime and threats are prevalent, and millions fall victim to online sharks. As such, it’s always a good idea to ensure that a website is fully licensed by a reputable organization before risking your hard-earned money.

In case you bump into a few roadblocks mid-ply, it also helps to use virtual sports betting sites with 24/7/365 customer support systems. Some sportsbooks offer promotional packages in a bid to attract new customers. If you’re lucky, you might even land on a site that offers virtual sporting tips. During our review, we searched extensively for brands with all the markings of industry leaders. Thankfully, we struck gold and unearthed betting sites with features beyond our imagination.


Placing bets on Virtual Sports – Step-by-Step process

Wagering on virtual sports is similar to placing bets on regular options, but it has its specifics. Here are the steps you can follow:

  • Analyze which of the operators we recommend has the best V-sports options and sign up with them.
  • The chances of finding a separate welcome proposal for virtual sports are slim, but they exist. Research the promo section.
  • Deposit funds using a payment option.
  • Go to the separate virtual sports category (if it is available), or check the sportsbook and find the virtual sports alternatives.
  • Depending on the brand, you will find multiple alternatives, so pick the sports or provider you want.
  • Most virtual sports will offer non-stop action with around one-minute intervals between each other. In other words, you may need to wait a minute before placing a bet.
  • Choose the markets you want (some v-sports will grant you more options), and they’ll be added to your betslip.
  • The last step is to place the bet by choosing the amount you wish to wager.

Real-World Example of a Virtual Sports Bet

We want to show you a real-life example of placing a bet on virtual sports, so for the purpose of this test, we’ve chosen Betano. The latter is among the brands that offer a stand-alone V-sports category.

After visiting it, we found a lot of different v-sports, but we chose football. Interestingly, Betano allowed us to see the ongoing matches, as well as the events that are about to begin after that.

We’ve decided to wager on the Amsterdam vs Chelsea match and chose the Over/Under 2.5 goals options. The odds were as follows:

  • Over – 2.31
  • Under – 1.62

The lower number indicates the favorite, which in this case was under. However, we decided to put our luck to the test and wagered $50 on Over. To win our bet, Amsterdam and Chelsea have to score at least 3 goals in total. If that happens, we will win a total of $115.5 ($50 x 2.31).


Short History and Facts

Sports betting has been around for centuries. However, it was not until the advent of computer technology that the seeds of virtual sports were sewn. Since the invention of the computer, technology has developed at such a rapid pace that sports fanatics were fast adopting the new trend. Traditional punters are most likely familiar with the Pong, the first-ever virtual sporting game inspired by tennis. With many people using computers and the internet, virtual sports took hold until reaching their modern-day position.

But don’t be fooled into thinking virtual sports solely include chilling with friends and sharing consoles; there’s a lot more involved in the sport than what meets the eye. Today, more markets dominate the virtual sports betting online scene than punters get with traditional real-life sports. Interestingly, every virtual sports fanatic watches the same game no matter where they are in the world.


Final Thoughts

A challenging yet rewarding hobby, virtual sports provide the perfect kick for adrenaline junkies looking to score some cash. Never before has there been an opportunity for avid sports fans to partake in their favourite game and make right predictions in the process. Virtual sports rules typically mimic those of traditional games, which makes them easy to understand. Better still, the best bookmakers award punters with bonuses and promotional packages to kickstart a successful gaming journey.

While there’s no way of guaranteeing a lucky streak, several sites offer virtual sports betting tips and strategies to help maintain the excitement and thrill of the sport. Whether you’re a die-hard football fan, fancy some horse racing, greyhound, or looking to become the next LeBron James, virtual sports events provide boundless opportunities.


FAQ

Are virtual sports betting fixed?

Real-life sports have been known to be fixed from time to time. This has placed virtual sport under heavy scrutiny. But while virtual sports themselves are subject to potential manipulation, the bets themselves are typically fair. You just have to wager at reputable sportsbooks to get your payouts on time.

How do virtual sports work?

Virtual sports games closely resemble video games. In essence, real-life sporting activities are played out on the computer. Inherent to real sports, winning outcomes take into account both luck and skill. Results are determined by a virtual football betting algorithm or a tennis algorithm, depending on the type of sport.

What virtual sports are there?

Almost every major sporting activity in the world has an online version. You can play any sport from tennis, basketball, and football to horse racing, greyhound racing, and actual racing.

Is betting on virtual sports legal?

There are no laws that prohibit virtual sports. However, the legality of the sporting activity is largely reliant on the sportsbook. For a virtual sport to be considered legal, the website hosting the game should be fully licensed by a reputable regulatory authority.

How do you win at virtual sports?

The outcome of a virtual match is largely dependent on chance. As such, there is no proven method of hitting the lucky score. However, thorough research and sound strategies can significantly increase your chances of winning.

Author
Leona Melvin
Leona MelvinLeona is part of the Content Writers team behind Nostrabet. With 6+ years of experience within the iGaming industry, she has an in-depth knowledge of casinos and games.