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Virtual Betting Sites

While there will always be a majority market out there for real-life betting – that is, punting on real sports and events – virtual sports betting has been growing more and more in popularity over the past few years.

Did you know just how many Virtual Betting websites there are online in 2024?

Best Virtual Betting Sites

We have compiled a recommended list of the best brands for Virtual Betting:

  • William Hill Virtual

    DEPOSIT £10 GET £30 FREE
    William Hill Virtual Bet Logo

    New Customer Offer. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Please Gamble Responsibly.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Betfair Virtual

    WIN UP TO 50% MORE
    Betfair Virtual Logo

    New Customer Offer. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Please Gamble Responsibly.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Betfred Virtual

    BET £10 GET £40 IN BONUSES
    Betfred Virtual

    New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • BoyleSports Virtual

    UP TO £25 FREE BETS
    Boyle Sports Logo

    *18+. 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 qualifying bets. 13 bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of opening account. Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.**18+. Opt in. UK/IRE customers only. Max refund £/€20. Win or win part of e/w outright singles only. 5 or more runners. 1st bet on each race. Free bet expires after 7 days. Free/void/antepost bets don’t qualify. T&Cs apply.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Betin Virtual

    50% KARIBU BONUS
    Betin Virtual Bet Logo

    New Customer Offer. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Please Gamble Responsibly.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Bet9ja Virtual

    100% WELCOME BONUS
    Bet9ja Virtual Betting

    New Customer Offer. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Please Gamble Responsibly.

    Full T&C's Apply

Offers

This may be as a result of a growth in interest with regard to virtual sport games for consoles – but virtual sports betting sites take things to the next level with regard to odds and spectating.  Virtual sports are – just as the name suggests – completely fabricated.  You’re presented with a random event or series of events that you can bet on.

Sports

Some of the most popular sports you can bet on in this format include:

  • Football
  • Baseball
  • Horse Racing
  • Motor Racing
  • Greyhounds

For sports such as virtual football and baseball, you can even create your own teams and spectate league matches and tournaments set up and performed by artificial characters.  It’s a type of betting which is massively popular with many punters, and while it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is well worth looking into if you feel your luck has just about run dry with regard to real-life sports and events.

Virtual

Take on virtual horse racing, football, ice hockey and more – there’s no need to have to wait for certain matches to start, either – bet on what you want when you want.  Plenty of big-name bookmakers and gaming sites are adopting virtual betting as a serious option for their punters and new customers – and there’s every reason you should start taking a closer look at this standard if you’re aiming to diversify your bets online.

Remember the old 2p and 10p horse racing games you’d find in amusement arcades?  Think along those lines – only on a much grander and more sophisticated level. Check out our horse racing bet page to see the latest offers for real-life racing.

What is Virtual Betting?

Virtual betting is a new gaming and punting standard which allows you to place bets on odds for online games all hours of the day, seven days a week.  All games are completely computer-generated – which means that, while you will be presented with odds before you begin, there’s no need to worry about form or the intricacies of the sport at hand.

It’s popular with spectators and betters who may not necessarily be in too deep with the sportsbook scene in general. Virtual betting strategy may vary from person to person and from site to site, but it’s a safe play to go with your gut – particularly as these games and matches are set up to be completely random, and are regulated to remain that way.

Virtual betting sites will draw up fake teams and histories as well as fake horses for races – you’ll never have heard of those involved in the sports, but you will be given plenty of information to make an informed decision.  Prefer to side with the bookmaker?  Or perhaps you prefer to go against the grain?  Virtual betting is perhaps preferred by those who are more interested in casino standards, particularly as you can dip in and out of the games and races with ease.

For those who are more into their real sports and betting, there may be a risk that the thrill of the sport is missing – but at the same time, there are more and more exciting opportunities and twists emerging for you to enjoy such sports and events on a whole new level.  It’s well worth looking at the best virtual betting sites available to see what opportunities open up to you – you never know what you might find on even some of the smallest sites.  There are often big welcome deals and voucher codes set up for virtual sport and betting, too – so keep your mind open!

Make sure you have a look at various virtual tipsters’ advice to ensure you are making the right bets.

Online Sports Bet Games

Online sports bet games are based around real-life events to the extent that various stadiums, courses and tracks look exactly as they would in real life – only, they’re completely fabricated.  Advances in technology over the years have allowed virtual sports events to become more sophisticated, too.

This means that with some of the more advanced platforms and sports available, you may feel as if you are genuinely watching a sporting event unfold or take place.  It’s a fantastic feeling!  What’s more, you may even get commentary and insights into online matches and races which have been pre-recorded to add to the realism. Find out more about how online sports and games work here.

There are tons of advantages to betting on online sporting events – for one, you can dip in and out whenever you like, without having to worry about waiting for things to kick off.  What’s more, you don’t need to have any knowledge of sports or betting, for that matter – it’s wide open to absolutely everybody. Virtual sporting events may not be seen to be as worthwhile as real-life events betting to some punters, but there’s plenty of potential in giving it a go if you’re not the sportiest punter around.

Betting on Virtual Sports

Betting on virtual sports can, of course, carry disadvantages, too.  There is the fact that you are so free to be able to dip in and out of events that you may end up spending more – and for those punters who prefer to prepare and to analyse before placing money down, some of the fun is taken away.

It’s clear to see why some punters prefer real sports to virtual sports betting, but we think there are clear markets wide open for both parties to enjoy. If you are planning on placing a bet, make sure to check out the virtual bet types first.

Betting App

You can now get involved with a variety of sports and games on the go through a dedicated virtual betting app or two.  Many different bookmakers and brands will offer free apps for you to download for your phone and tablet, and you’ll be able to enjoy watching and betting on sports on the go – no need to stay at home to place your bets! Check out some of the best mobile betting apps and see all the latest promotional offers before signing up.

Betting and gaming are taking a real leap into the mobile world, and we’re pleased to say that there are plenty of portable opportunities for virtual betting enthusiasts out there.  Do some research – and give it a go.

Bonus Codes

Please see the list of brand promotions above for the latest sign up offers and bonuses.

Full List Sports Betting Markets

As you can see above we aim to show you all the biggest sporting events and create a comparison for you to work through.

James has over two decades of experience in the sports betting industry. From owning racehorses to winning multiple iGaming awards he uses his experience to research the bookmaker's best free bets and try to help punters get the highest sign up offers.