Best Virtual Sports Betting Sites

Don’t confuse virtual sports with esports. You aren’t in control of the game, and you are essentially playing against a computer instead of another player.
Over the years, software advances have substantially impacted sports betting.

For example, the user experience of sports betting websites has significantly improved. In-play wagering has also improved, allowing sports fans to bet during a game or contest.

Wagering on virtual sports has proved a byproduct of these advancements and is experiencing tremendous growth, especially since the pandemic.

According to a report by the market research firm SkyQuest in March 2023, virtual sports betting is expected to surpass $35 billion in revenue by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors of the sports betting industry.

Virtual sports result from technology-driven betting that aims to provide bettors with the possibility of wagering on their favorite sports at any time.

Unlike regular sporting events with fixed schedules and seasons, virtual sports run 365 days a year.

Virtual sports contests use software similar to slot machines and operate independently from real-life sports. Simply put, virtual sports are machine-operated teams or players that compete against each other.

Due to the technology behind virtual sports and the regulations established by regulatory authorities, virtual matches are fair for bettors and are not rigged.

Like a slot machine, you will lose over the long run, but there remain opportunities to win.

Multiple types of virtual sports are available, including football, soccer, tennis, cycling, greyhound and horse racing, motorsports and darts.

The rules are the same as in real life, meaning that if a bettor already has experience betting on any real-life sports, the transition to wagering on virtual sports should be smooth.

Many bettors worry about the transparency and fairness of virtual sports, especially because they might not understand how such a betting market can operate fairly.

Virtual sports use a random number generator (RNG), much like slots, which guarantees that all the results are fair, random and impossible to fix.

As long as you opt for betting on virtual sports at a licensed and regulated betting site, there are minimal concerns for players.

No sports betting brand would entertain the possibility of having their operations stopped for trying to fix a virtual sports match, especially when they’re trying to build consumer trust.

Further, seeing as licensed sportsbooks frequently face technology audits from gambling regulatory authorities, you can be sure that the results of a virtual sports match are fair.

The obvious downside of betting on virtual sports is that the results will always depend on the RNG, genuinely becoming a game of chance.

Regardless of your expertise in any real-life sport or team, you will need more than your knowledge to make the right pick, as the software controls all the outcomes rather than the players’ performance in real life.

Although virtual sports betting has been around for several years, the range of betting options has only recently increased.

Previously, many sportsbooks only carried soccer and horse/greyhound racing for virtual sports. This situation is changing, however, as many betting websites have expanded their menus to remain competitive.

The most popular options for bettors interested in virtual sports include:

• Horse Racing
• Greyhound Racing
• Tennis
• Football
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Motorsport
• Speedway
• Cycling
• Cricket
• Ice Hockey
• Darts

Game studios will likely continue to develop other virtual sports that will likely make their way to the collections available in online sportsbooks.
As interest in these betting markets continues to rise, sports betting platforms must keep expanding their market coverage to ensure they meet demand.

Bettors who have yet to dabble with virtual sports may wonder how they compare to real-life sports.

Although the enthusiasm you can get from betting on your favorite team or athlete isn’t possible when wagering on virtual sports, this betting market can be enjoyable for some consumers.

One advantage of virtual sports is they allow bettors to place their picks any day, at any time, making them very convenient.

Unlike professional sports competitions, virtual sports don’t follow a specific season or schedule.

Alternatively, the computer-simulated matches happen continuously. There’s also no risk of a game getting canceled due to inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances.

Additionally, virtual sports contests finish quickly.

For instance, while a real-life soccer match usually lasts 90 minutes, it will only take 90 seconds to complete in its virtual version. In the time it takes for one soccer game to end, you could bet on 45 virtual soccer matches.

While you don’t get the same satisfaction as watching a real soccer match, you can bet on more matches in less time.

That means you also get the results of your bets much faster, so you can find out whether you won or lost in a matter of minutes.

That makes it possible to quickly win (or lose) a good amount of money.

There is also typically a low barrier to entry for virtual sports. Whereas some casino games require high minimums, bettors don’t need to wager a lot of money to participate in virtual sports.

Virtual sports can also be played on your phone or mobile device, so you do not need to travel to an in-person sportsbook or casino to play.

Finally, the technology behind virtual sports ensures that the results can’t be corrupted.

Real-life sports have rules against doping or match-fixing, for example, but virtual sports don’t deal with these problems.

They’re also not susceptible to human error from bad referees or officials that can alter the outcome of a match.

While some qualities of virtual sports betting make it attractive to sports bettors, there are downsides to consider before getting involved.

The main element is that virtual sports betting is completely random and essentially another form of a slot machine at a casino.

That type of betting can be entertaining but it relies on pure chance. There is no way for a sports bettor to gain an edge over the competition and use their knowledge to their advantage as they can with traditional sports.

Accordingly, bettors should treat virtual sports betting like a casino game rather than actual sports betting.

Virtual sports also have a significant house edge. Most online casinos typically have a Return to Player (RTP) of 95-97%, meaning a player could expect to get $95-$97 back from playing $100.

However, the RTP for virtual sports betting can be closer to 80%.

The option to bet on many matches in a short amount of time can make virtual sports betting addicting, so sports bettors just need to be extra cautious when playing and stick to a budget.

Placing bets on virtual sports is similar to a real-life sporting match. Thus, the betting markets are similar and vary according to the virtual sport you wager on.

Nevertheless, bettors must understand they’re not betting on an actual game, match or race.

Virtual sports use software to run, which makes them similar to online casino slot games that depend purely on chance.

While you could research the performance and injuries of a specific team before betting on them in a real-life game, you can’t do the same for virtual sports betting.

There is no strategy for betting on virtual sports, which are totally random. Sportsbooks will have a house edge for each match, similar to slots.

You may win money in the short term but are more likely to lose money in the long term, so play accordingly.

Although most betting markets will be available for virtual sports, you won’t find exotic bets or prop bets. For instance, you won’t be able to place over/under bets for football or round robin and Super Heinz bets for horse racing.

Virtual sports betting isn’t ideal if you’re a bettor who likes betting on more than just who wins and who loses (moneyline betting), so its simplicity is both a pro and a con.

It is easy to understand for new bettors and isn’t overly complicated, but there also aren’t as many wagering options.

With virtual sports betting still in its infancy in the United States, many prominent U.S. sportsbooks don’t offer them. It’s a casino product, not a sports betting product.

You can’t virtual sports bet at the top sportsbooks:

• FanDuel Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• Bet365 Sportsbook

If you’re interested in virtual sports betting, there are several online casinos you can use. The top betting sites for virtual sports betting include:
Golden Nugget Online Casino

• Caesars Online Casino
• Betfair Online Casino
• Borgata Online Casino
• DraftKings Online Casino
• Bet365 Online Casino
• Pennsylvania iLottery

While the popularity of virtual sports betting has been growing in the U.S., few states allow this type of wagering.

As such, we recommend you read online gambling rules in your state to understand where the local government stands on virtual sports betting.

The states allowing bettors to place wagers on virtual sports also have varying regulations, which may lead to confusion among players seeking information about this topic.

For instance, the virtual betting rules imposed by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement are different from those established by the state of Pennsylvania.

You should also note that the regulatory authorities overseeing virtual sports in the U.S. are the same ones that also control online casino and sports betting.

Thus, virtual sports betting is safe to play.

Right now, only New Jersey and Pennsylvania have virtual sports betting. Nevada is also expected to launch it soon.

The Garden State and Keystone State are two of the more advanced online gambling markets in the U.S., so it’s no surprise that they are ahead of other jurisdictions.

The same goes for Nevada, which has been America’s unofficial gambling capital for decades.

Regulated sports betting is still relatively new to the U.S., so virtual sports betting will take more time to expand. Most Americans are still getting familiar with wagering on real-life sports.

You now understand how virtual sports work and compare to real-life sports. However, you might still need to decide if betting on virtual sports suits you.

If you’re a bettor who enjoys fast-paced betting, wagering on virtual sports might be an alternative to betting on real sports.

This is particularly true for bettors who follow sports with short seasons or competitions that only happen on specific days.

Although most online sportsbooks now cover international competitions, it’s challenging to find sporting events happening at all times.

As a result, bettors tend to look for entertainment with more betting options and without time or season restrictions.

In these cases, you might want to give betting on virtual sports a chance.

The realistic graphics and the commentary accompanying each match allow for a life-like sporting experience in a bite-sized form.

On the other hand, virtual sports can’t compete with real sports regarding fan passion and enthusiasm.

Many bettors wager on their favorite teams or players and follow the competitions religiously to ensure they’re always on top of the action.

For those players who are die-hard fans of a specific sport, team or player, virtual sports might feel unsatisfying.

Even though the matches resemble the real thing, it’s still ultimately a simulation.