Best Virtual Betting Sites
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6 Best Virtual Sports Betting sites in 2020 - September 2020
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Real time bet editing- Bet builder feature
- Fast & easy withdrawals
Open Account Offer. Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5 and 1x settled bet requirement to release Bet Credits. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
- Bets on virtual boxing
- Live chat customer support
- Sports betting algorithms that create interesting bets
New UK & NI customers only. 18+. Sign up using promo code ‘SPORTS60’. Deposit & place first sports bet at a minimum of £10 in one bet transaction at evens (2.0) +. £30 paid in free bets within 48 hours of bet settlement, expires 7-days after issue. E-Wallet & Prepaid Card restrictions apply. Your first bet must be settled within 60 days of bet placement. SMS validation may be required. Game restrictions apply. Maximum 30 Free Spins on selected games. Free Spins expire after 7 days. Full T&Cs apply.
- Variety of virtual sports
- Excellent promotions
- Available on mobile
UK only. Bet £10 on Virtual Sports, win up to £50 Casino Bonus on Box Boost game with 1st deposit, use code "SPORTS". 24-hour expiry. Max bet £2.50, max win 10x Bonus awarded, selected games & 65x wagering on winnings. No neteller/skrill. Deposit/withdrawal fees apply. Scroll down for Full T&Cs.
- Excellent graphics
- Wide range of sports to choose from
- High class encryption software
New customers only, limited to one per person. If you’ve previously had a Paddy Power account, you will not qualify for the offer. Place your first bet on any Sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £/€20. Only deposits made using Cards or Paypal will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply.
- Most trusted UK bookie
- Supports wide range of payment options
- Certified RNG
New customers using Promo Code P30 only, min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15 (30 days expiry), free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply.
- Plenty of sports to choose from
- Frequent promotional events
- Gibraltar gaming license
New Customers only. Deposit and place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only (1 at odds 2.00 or greater), expires in 7 days, plus a £10 Casino Bonus, expires in 7 days. Wager the Casino Bonus 40x to withdraw winnings. Credit or Debit card only. Geographical Restrictions. T&Cs Apply.
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How We Rank Virtual Betting Sites
Nowadays, the list of betting markets for virtual sports is almost the same in size as the one you get for real sports. Basically, if you can name a mainstream sport, chances are there are betting markets available for that virtual sport too. So, what should you look for in a good virtual betting site?
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to rank betting venues, but there are some universal criteria to consider. We’ve ranked the best virtual sports betting sites on the following basis.
Betting Features
No matter whether you’re a novice or an expert at virtual betting on events, you should definitely consider what types of bets are available. All bookmakers on the market offer the usual win-draw-win options, but the best world sports betting sites should offer extra features for virtual sports. As the popularity of these features grows, the number of bookies offering them also grows.
Most popular bookies will give you cash-out, acca insurances, or “build your bet” features. With the cash-out feature, players get the option of full or partial cash-out. There are some British betting sites that stand out when it comes to their range of betting features, but they are in the minority. We’ve made sure to cover only the top virtual sports betting sites that also include some extra betting features.
Bonuses and Promotions
As with other types of betting, virtual gaming sites offer various tiers of promotional schemes to devoted players. At the most popular venues you will find a variety of sports betting promotions, boosts, offers, and free bets. Virtual betting fans are constantly bombarded with the best bookmaker deals updated daily, weekly, or monthly. We look for those that offer exciting ongoing rewards and VIP programs for dedicated players.
Game Selection and Quality of Odds
There’s a virtual sports network for nearly all the most popular sports worldwide. The most common include football (soccer), horse and dog racing, motor sports, tennis, and basketball. However, the criteria for finding the best virtual gambling platform aren’t the same as those you’d use for real life sports betting.
The key difference between virtual and real life sports betting is the manner in which the odds are set and how the bookmaker’s margin works. In real life betting, odds are set by bookies based on the previous events and form, while in virtual sports fantasy markets, the bookmaker doesn’t actually set the odds in the traditional sense.
Virtual sports odds have far more in common with those of slot machines. The house has a defined edge that’s built into the program, so you can expect your results to reflect that over time. We look for the juiciest odds and the smallest edge when we handpick the best virtual sports betting sites, so you can count on an adequate number of games and respectable odds to choose from.
User Experience
Virtual gambling platforms are usually easy-to-navigate and offer some guidance through the virtual betting experience. Keeping this in mind, we look for the top-rated simulated virtual sports betting platforms on the market in terms of UX. We give preference to sites eye-catching graphics and a simple but effective page layout. Our article will take you through what we consider to be the most player-friendly top virtual sports betting platforms on the market.
Payment Options
Before selecting the best bookmaker offer, the first thing you’d naturally want to look into is the variety of sports covered. However, the number of payment options the bookmaker provides is also a big factor to consider. During our research, we’ve encountered a wide variety of deposit methods, some of which vary depending on your location. These include major credit cards, electronic payment services, cryptocurrencies, and money transfer services.
Limits may be placed on the use of your Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit card, and some virtual sport betting sites may charge fees for using cards for deposits and withdrawals. We’ve looked for the best virtual sports betting softwares that allow a full spectrum of payment methods.
Security Features
The security features of your favourite sport betting site are crucial. The things you should look for include the ways the company stores your data and whether or not it uses industry-standard encryption technology to keep those details safe. Encryption keys vary in terms of security, so we’ve looked for betting sites that use 128-bit SSL encryption technology as a minimum.
All games should be independently tested and each betting option should be randomised by a certified random number generator. You can rest assured that the best virtual betting softwares on our list all incorporate security protocols that meet global security standards.
What’s Next for Virtual Sports Betting in the UK?
Virtual sports betting is still very much an emerging market. As such, each site varies in the number and quality of virtual sports on offer. The oldest and best virtual sports sites are about 10 years old, meaning that this industry is still in its formative years as a betting service.
In general, bookmakers on the market share many similarities in their virtual betting game offerings, but there are still considerable differences between the quality and range of products from site to site. Some bookmakers offer considerably fewer types of virtual sports, while others don’t offer a great range of bets on those sports.
It’s clear then why many virtual sports betting fans decide to take their business outside the UK to find the service that best suits their favoured form of betting. So given the current state of the virtual sports betting market in the UK, how is the industry likely to develop in the years to come?
Increased Choice of Betting Markets
Even though the virtual sports betting market is still undergoing rapid development, we’ve already seen that some bookmakers offer more betting markets within their virtual sports offering than others. Most virtual betting sites include the basic offer – horse racing, football, and a few other popular categories – but the number of markets available on virtual sports remains considerably smaller than real life sports. However, with the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown cancelling almost all sporting events across the globe, we can expect virtual sports to experience a major boost.
Improvement of Current Virtual Sports Offering
Many sports betting providers haven’t done much to update their offer for a whole decade, and they are now starting to look tired around the edges. But it’s not just the graphics and presentation of each virtual sport that makes a difference; enhanced gameplay could also open up new opportunities for betting.
For instance, virtual football betting games could evolve to become widespread competitions instead of just random games. Virtual horse racing could include obstacles and horses that fall, in which case you could earn back your stake if their horse falls. With these changes, players would finally be given an opportunity to bet on the outcome of the competition, not just to bet on virtual sports themselves. Of course, refinements in graphics and presentation are a much-needed renovation too.
Introduction of New Virtual Sports
Lastly, the current line-up of virtual sports could use some additions. The virtual sports industry in the United States is working on including the top US sports like baseball and American football to its selection of the best online virtual games. It will not be too long before they are available on the UK market, too.
Many operators on the world sports betting market will also consider adding more sports like swimming, athletics, and cricket to the format. The virtual sports industry has now reached the point where it needs to take the next step in its development or risk looking outdated.
Bet365
With millions of customers across a wide range of countries, this betting site ranks as one of the largest bookmakers in the world. Bet365 is also one of the best virtual sports betting sites with an extensive offer of virtual sports and real life matches featuring everything from top football leagues to the smallest tennis match in the ITF schedule. You can play Bet365’s best virtual games on your desktop or using your iOS, Android, or Windows device.
The sign-up bonus earns you up to £100 in bet credits deals, and for the first deposit you’ll be granted a 100% bonus on your qualifying deposit up to £50. The rest of the promotional offers vary depending on which country you live in and are subject to terms and conditions. As one of the best virtual sports betting sites, Bet365 runs a loyalty scheme for its devoted customers divided into five tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.
At Bet365, you can cash out your full amount or choose to do so only with a part of your bet. Your virtual bet can be placed in real time with the new “edit bet” feature, so you can add, alter, or remove selections within the same request. Your virtual sports betting experience is further enhanced with the “bet builder” feature, which allows you to create your own sports betting data for pre-match selections.
All major currencies and payment methods are supported, with various country-specific methods for deposits. Withdrawals are fast and easy, too. Bet365 stocks all essentials including fast bank transfers, eWallets, and credit/debit cards.
Bet365 is a virtual betting site licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which means it must adhere to the guidelines set out in the license agreement. This virtual betting establishment is tested by eCogra to ensure the safety and fairness of games, and all games run on a random sport generator. Additionally, Bet365 employs 128-bit SSL encryption technology.
PaddyPower
This gambling establishment is the result of a merger between three existing Irish bookmakers. Nowadays, Paddy Power is known for offering computer generated sports picks on controversial markets to gain more publicity. Its online casino is easy to navigate; it has kept its familiar green theme with an even more recognisable logo. The design of this virtual betting establishment is clear and very concise, and the games are accessible and of great quality. Paddy Power’s popular virtual games can be accessed on Android, iPhone, and Windows devices.
New customers at Paddy Power are greeted with an opening bet of up to £10, and if they lose it, they will get their stake refunded in cash. This offer is available only for UK and Irish players who deposit using credit/debit card or PayPal. The first live virtual bet you make with Paddy Power will be your qualifying bet, and this will be the one that is refunded.
Using this promo, you can enjoy a virtual football game here or there, or look into another 40 different sports markets, including some rather niche options like rowing, esports, fishing, and weightlifting. Aside from those, Paddy Power’s virtual betting site offers numerous table games including blackjack, roulette, red dog, and a vast array of video slot machines.
Paddy Power’s betting features include offers like money-back specials, best price guaranteed, and many more. You’ll be able to cash in your bet where you see the Cash Out logo; there’s no need to wait for the game to finish. In other words, gambling algorithms on this platform ensure that you’ll be paid the amount irrespective of how the event concludes.
Paddy Power offers Visa, Mastercard, Entropay, PayPal, Neteller, Moneybookers, bank transfers, and cheque as payment methods. These are easy to use and they safely store your betting data.
All systems are rigorously tested and have been developed with high-class encryption software. Additionally, this virtual sports and casino operator holds GLI certification and two licenses, from the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.
BetVictor
You might be surprised to learn that this virtual world betting operator has been present on the market for more than two decades, offering the best odds in the business and excellent incentives. Virtual gaming at Bet365 is one of the cleanest and most player-friendly interfaces on the market – all key features are clearly laid out with only a few distractions. This gambling site can be accessed via iOS, Android, or Windows Phone with the same functionality and features as the desktop BetVictor platform.
The welcome bonus gives you £40 in free bets, while casino players are welcomed with a 100% bonus up to £100. The best bookie offers at this site are updated daily, weekly, and monthly, and are made up of enhanced sports betting offers on a range of betting markets.
Virtual sports betting is available on football, horses, and greyhounds, and is made more enjoyable with acca insurance offers, best odds, and cashback offers on weekend betting.
The sports betting options with BetVictor don’t dissapoint. There are plenty of great offers, including Price It Up, Accept Higher Odds, and Combination Forecast. You can create your own unique bet using the Price It Up feature, or make three or more selections to create a combination forecast consisting of six bets in all. Some betting options are unique to BetVictor, while some can be found out most other bookmaker sportsbooks.
BetVictor is a virtual betting site that offers a decent range of payment options such as Neteller, Skrill, eWallet, and Bitcoin. There are, of course, credit and debit card options, as well as additional options that are available depending on your region and currency.
You don’t have to worry about security; BetVictor is licensed by the Government of Gibraltar Licensing Authority and the UK Gambling Commision, which ensures that it can offer a secure, safe gambling environment. To top things off, this bookmaker employs 128-bit SSL technology powered by Thawlte, a well-respected security firm.
William Hill
William Hill’s virtual gambling platform offers a decent number of betting choices and it’s relatively easy to find your way around the site. The home page is very true to William Hill’s well-known branding and you can find all game categories listed at the top. Betting on events at this site is available on your desktop browser and both iOS and Android operating systems, all of which offer the same level of functionality and betting options.
For those who sign up, William Hill currently has a “bet £10, get £30” offer available. If you deposit £10, you’ll get two £15 bets upon entering the promo code. Football punters can stake £20 with four or more selections and get a free £5 bet every Friday. With coverage of over 60,000 football games, 200 licensed slot titles, plenty of sports-style wagers, and a huge table games library, William Hill outplays most of its virtual sports betting competitors.
As for the betting features, you can count on the “cash in my bet” option, which will allow you to cash in your bet for a fixed amount while the event is still in play. William Hill offers great competitive odds across a range of sport betting games as well as fantastic in-play betting features in a variety of markets.
When you decide to collect your winnings, you’ll find that most standard debit cards are available, and you’ll also be able to use eWallets or PayPal. As for deposits, this virtual sports betting site even accepts some lesser-known methods like Neosurf. You can also opt for a bank transfer or use Western Union.
This virtual gaming establishment is licensed by the Gibraltar government and the UK Gambling Commission. These two organizations oversee the regulation of William Hill’s activities and ensure a fair, safe gambling experience. All the games at this site are tested and certified by TST and run through a certified random number generator. This virtual betting site uses various security measures and employs 128-bit SSL encryption technology to ensure your complete safety online.
Betfred
This site has expanded to become one of the largest independent bookmakers in the world, as well as operating more than 1,300 physical betting shops in the UK. Its services range from virtual football betting to casino games, poker, bingo, and much more. Betfred’s site has clearly segregated game categories with large buttons for the odds and an excellent, intuitive layout. Whether you’re using this virtual betting app on iOS or Android, you’ll be in for a smooth and seamless betting experience.
Upon registration, you’ll be greeted with £30 in free bets to be used within a seven-day period. You’ll also be updated about daily, weekly, and monthly promotional offers available across a range of sports. For instance, if you play virtual football and land one of the longest-priced accumulators of the month, you’ll receive up to £1,000 in free bets as a reward.
There are promos that double your winnings or refund your stake. Using these promos, you can enjoy the offer on 30 virtual betting games ranging from football and horse racing to bowls, boxing, and hurling. The casino is powered by Playtech and offers over 530 slots, as well as tables for roulette, blackjack, and Pai Gow poker.
There is an impressive range of betting features in Betfred’s sports betting algorithm, such as Pick Your Punt, Double Delight, Hat-Trick Heaven, and acca insurance. With the Pick Your Punt option, you can create your own scenarios and combine markets. If your winning first goalscorer scores a second, the Double Delight will double your winnings. As is the case with most of the best virtual sports sites, you can cash out your full amount or only half of it.
The average virtual gamer can use all the most popular payment methods here, including Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, bank transfer, and PayPal. There are two major licensing authorities that ensure that this virtual gambling bookmaker’s activities are legitimate and fair: the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and the UK Gambling Commission. In addition to that, this top virtual sports site employs Verisign SSL encryption technology to make sure that any financial and personal data you input is protected from third parties.
Ever since it was founded in 2012, BGO has had a mission to bring the best of casino, slots, bingo, and virtual sports to the online betting world. The company has since partnered with Playtech and moved its games to Playtech’s platform where they remain to this day, with the addition of several other well known providers. Today, this casino offers hundreds of games and bonuses, with weekly challenges and other exciting features adding extra flavor.
This casino is available on both desktop and mobile. Gamers looking to play on the go can download the official mobile app available for iOS and Android, or jump straight onto the mobile-friendly version of the site. There are more than 900 BGO games available, covering all the classics and popular slots, among others. Virtual sports take up a separate section where horse races, football matches and more are running 24/7. Scoring a welcome bonus at this casino is pretty straightforward. Just give a minimum deposit of £10 and enter the code SPORTS. After playing through the deposit, a mini-game will pop up through which you can win a casino bonus of up to £50. Releasing the BGO welcome bonus may take some time but, ultimately, it’s worth it.
Numerous payment methods are accepted by this online casino including debit cards, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Zofort. You can find the list of all 15 deposit and withdrawal options on the BGO website. For deposits under £500, BGO charges a fee of 2.5%. For withdrawals under £50 the house charges a £1 fee, and for deposits of £50 the fee is £2.50.
There’s no reason to worry about your personal information at BGO casino. The site uses strong SSL encryption which hides the information from any potential eavesdroppers. While the site doesn’t have third-party audits about games’ provability, looking at the providers we can safely say that these games are fair and have been tested in the past.
The English speaking support team is available every day from 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m via chat, email, and phone. Players also have a helpful FAQ section at their disposal.
FAQ about Virtual Sports Betting
Here are some of the internet's most frequently asked questions concerning virtual sports betting.
How do you win on virtual sports betting?
As it is with real sports, it’s advisable not to focus on winning as such, but instead to pay attention to your betting strategy. It’s best to bet a small amount of money at first and go for safer bets with only one match selection. To be even safer, continue betting and wait for your profits to grow. When they grow by 25%, you can start increasing the number of match selections.
Is virtual betting fixed?
Virtual sports are a product of computer algorithms, so the results are completely random. In a way, virtual sports odds are more similar to the chances you get of winning with an average slot machine. By combining the technology of slots with the excitement of sports, online bookmakers can offer what seems to be a realistic sports betting simulator.
What are virtual games in betting?
Virtual gaming products provide customers with an opportunity to bet on virtual games with outcomes generated by a computer algorithm in a non-biased way. These virtual matches can be played around-the-clock and make you feel like you’re actually in the stadium or standing by the race track.
How is virtual football programmed?
The best virtual sports betting strategies suggest that before you step into the world of virtual betting, you should familiarise yourself with the concept. For example, online football events are significantly shorter than the average football game. One match day takes three minutes instead of the normal 90 minutes, so 30 match days constitute one virtual football season.