Wagering on virtual sports online is a unique and exciting way to gamble. While some people are already familiar with it, many haven’t explored what it offers. You’re in the right place if you’ve never tried virtual sports betting or are curious about how it works. This guide will cover the most important points to help you choose the best virtual sports betting sites.
Tim is our betting guru. Every gaming site needs one, and Tim’s our guy. He has plenty of experience in betting online and is quite successful at it. Tim’s favorite sports are hockey, baseball, and Esports. Tim believes the latter to be the future of betting.
In the world of online gambling, virtual sports betting stands out because it combines the thrill of real sports with the convenience of online gaming. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor looking for something new or a complete beginner, understanding how to pick the best bookies can make all the difference. I’ll break down everything you need to know, from the basics of virtual sports to the features that make a bookmaker great.
List of the Best Virtual Sports Bookmakers
Many online sportsbooks offer virtual sports betting, but not all do. So if you want to start online wagering, you first need to figure out where you will place your bets. But there is one more thing you need to consider.
Before you even consider placing bets, you need to find a good bookie which offers solid odds and has enough games available. Finding reliable betting platforms is essential. Take your time and check whether the website you’re looking to register for has all the features and offers solutions for your betting needs.
Check out my list of the top virtual sports gambling sites, which offer great odds, plenty of sports to wager on and even provide its users with great betting offers.
To attract new players, many bookmakers started offering mobile betting apps, which allow you to wager on the go, anytime, anywhere. Although it is possible via a mobile browser, the apps are far more comfortable. Compared to mobile websites, mobile apps work faster, are more stable and are designed to be as comfortable to use as possible.
Some sportsbooks will even have special betting offers for mobile users, so there are many positives to using an app.
Check out my list of the best virtual betting apps below!
Virtual sports is the popular US betting market offered by many bookmakers online. The variety of options available is great for American bettors. As each bookie tries to outdo their competition, they improve the quality of their services and leave bettors with better choices all-around.
If the numerous options available have left you confused about the US bookmakers to use, this page is your comprehensive guide. I have meticulously tested the eligible sportsbooks to determine which sites will prove to be worth your time.
I’ve compiled a list of the best virtual sports sportsbooks based on the quality of their odds, bonuses, mobile betting, and customer support.
Since 2018 when PASPA was struck down, every American state has had the freedom to set their individual legislation for online and retail sports betting. Here’s a table to help you understand what forms of wagering are available in different states.
State
Online Betting
Retail Betting
Arizona
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Arkansas
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Colorado
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Connecticut
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Delaware
No ❌
Yes ✅
Illinois
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Indiana
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Iowa
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Kansas
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Kentucky
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Louisiana
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Maine
Yes ✅
No ❌
Maryland
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Massachusetts
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Michigan
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Mississippi
No ❌
Yes ✅
Montana
No ❌
Yes ✅
Nevada
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
New Hampshire
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
New Jersey
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
New Mexico
No ❌
Yes ✅
New York
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Ohio
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Oregon
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Pennsylvania
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Rhode Island
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
South Dakota
No ❌
Yes ✅
Tennessee
Yes ✅
No ❌
Vermont
Yes ✅
No ❌
Virginia
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
West Virginia
Yes ✅
Yes ✅
Wisconsin
No ❌
Yes ✅
Wyoming
Yes ✅
No ❌
7 Best Bookmakers for Virtual Sports Betting by Category
One way to improve the quality of your betting is by understanding the specific strengths of each bookie before registering with them. This strategy enables you to tailor your search based on the exact categories most important to you. Here’s a summary of the best virtual sports online bookies and the qualities that make them stand out.
Betway is a trusted brand regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission. Its market depth covers more than 30 popular and niche sports, each one offering hundreds of single betting markets each day.
When it comes to virtual betting options in the US, Betway stands in a class of its own. The bookmaker’s impressive virtual markets cut across soccer, horse racing, cycling, greyhounds, motor racing, speedway, and trotting.
In addition to these, the Betway desktop and mobile sites have functional in-play betting and live streaming sections for wagering on virtuals in real time.
As a sports betting brand, William Hill has existed far longer than most, with the company’s history traceable back to the mid-20th century. The bookmaker has managed to remain at the top of the game all these years by consistently offering punters the best odds and bonuses.
William Hill’s main promotional attraction is its sports welcome package for new bettors. It is worth up to £300 in free bets, credited after your first qualifying bet of at least £20 settles.
Other notable offers that new and returning bettors can claim include epic odds, Flash odds, ber builder extras, and daily boosts on virtual betting selections.
Bovada is a licensed and secure bookmaker that has been offering online sports betting services to US punters since 2011. The bookie delivers competitive odds on dozens of sports categories, including popular virtual markets like soccer, hockey, and baseball.
Bovada’s apps for iOS and Android devices are some of the best mobile betting options available to American bettors. They come equipped with modern security features, a super-intuitive layout, and lag-free performance.
Mobile bettors on Bovada will also have access to key wagering features like parlay builders, cash out, and detailed statistical breakdowns.
PROS
CONS
PROS
Top-rated mobile application
Excellent odds on virtuals
Offers live dealer, poker, and horse racing products
With a license from the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner and over 2 decades of experience, bet365 is easily one of the best bookmakers around. Its virtual betting tab contains a selection of 13 virtual markets, ranging from soccer and horse racing to cricket, motor racing, and baseball.
Punters on bet365 will discover a well-organized in-play betting section offering live match stats and live streaming. With these features and the early cash out option, you can follow the action as it happens and adjust your stakes in real time.
To cap it all, the live odds you’ll find offered on bet365 are evenly matched with the best prices available in the industry.
Unibet is a secure and licensed product of the Kindred Group, one of the most respected companies in the online gambling industry. The sportsbook has been around since 1999.
US bettors on this platform will find a varied selection of virtuals, including virtual NBA, tennis, horse and greyhounds racing. Unibet’s generous odds prices and unique bet boosts help it stand out as the highest payout bookie for virtual sports betting.
AccessBET Sportsbook was established in 2016 to cater to bettors in Africa and the US. The bookie provides favorable odds on popular virtual soccer leagues like Virtual Football Pro and League Golden Race.
Every bettor on this platform qualifies to take part in the lucrative AccessBET VIP program. It contains 5 tiers and delivers benefits that go from free bets to priority withdrawals and bonus cash without wagering requirements.
Betfred Sportsbook started out back in 1967 as one of the UK’s prominent betting shops. Today, the bookmaker is licensed to provide online sports betting in up to 10 American states, including Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
Betfred is known for many positive qualities, including vast market coverage, competitive odds, and world-class mobile app.
But none of these features are as impressive as the bookmaker’s customer support, which is accessible 24/7 via live chat and email. The sportsbook’s help representatives are always helpful and equipped with useful information on handling sports betting and technical issues.
The table below offers a side-by-side comparison of the best virtual sports online bookmakers based on their available features, payout times, limits, and overall ratings.
When looking for the best sites for virtual sports betting, you must prioritize the quality of the odds and the offer of virtual sports you can bet on. But it would help if you don’t overlook the sportsbook’s bonus offers and promotions.
Promotions and betting bonuses are the best and easiest way to get extra value for your money at no additional cost. The rewards come in many shapes and sizes, from reload bonuses, free bets, accumulator odds boosts, deposit bonuses and more. But no matter which type of bonuses you find, it’s advisable that you can take advantage of as many as you can.
Check out my list of the best virtual sports betting bonuses, and don’t forget to read through the terms and conditions to ensure you’re eligible for the bonus.
Earn a 50% Welcome Bonus up to $1,000 on your first-ever deposit at Jazz Sports. Use Promo Code JAZZ50 and your extra 50% will be added to your sports betting balance. Full T&Cs apply
#ad New Customers only. 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. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
Online betting on virtual sports is a unique way to gamble, but it’s not nearly as complicated as it may sound. In essence, virtual sports are randomly-generated simulations of sports events ranging from football to horse racing and anything in between.
These events include fictional players and teams and all have randomly generated results, similar to how the outcome of a roulette game or a slots game is completely random. So while you’re still betting on sports in some sense, the whole experience is much closer to a casino game.
Initially, betting on virtual sports wasn’t that great, primarily due to poor graphics. But with time, the software developers improved their offer, providing better graphics and a more realistic feel to the games. This has made betting sites with virtual sports very popular.
Most Popular Virtual Sports Betting Markets 🛒
The selection of virtual sports betting markets is vast, and there is no way to list all bet types available to you. Essentially, the available betting markets on bookies for virtual sports are just as large as you can get while wagering on real sports.
Moreover, the available bet types will vary depending on which sport you bet on, just like you would find different wagers depending on whether you’re placing bets on a football or bowls.
Still, a few bet types are fairly standard across all virtual sports, and we will look at a few that are the most common.
Winner Bet
A winner bet is the most straightforward virtual sports bet you can take. It’s essentially a wager on which team, player, horse, or car will win the next match or race and is the same as a moneyline stake.
Totals Goals/Points Scores
If you’re familiar with the traditional sports betting markets, the totals bet should be easy to understand. This bet type is often used to bet on the total number of points or goals scored in a basketball/football game, but it can be used to predict any statistic in any given match or event. With it, you’re predicting how high a certain statistic in a game will be.
Over/Under Bets
Over/under bets are similar to total goals/points scored. The only exception is that with over/under wagers, you’re predicting whether a particular statistic in a match will exceed the predetermined number.
Forecast Bet
Forecast bet is used in virtual horse race wagering. It’s a simple bet type where the bettor, instead of trying to pick the winner, places a wager on which 2 horses will finish first and second in the exact order.
So not only do you need to accurately predict which horse will win the race, but also which horse will finish second. Although it’s hard to predict a forecast correctly, many betting sites for virtual sports offer this bet type, and many bettors like to use it, mainly due to the high odds and potential payouts it offers.
Tricast Bet
A Tricast bet is like an advanced version of a forecast wager. While just as simple to understand, tricast bets on virtual horse races are extremely tough to pull off.
With a tricast bet, you don’t only need to predict which horse will finish first and second, but also which horse will end the race third. There is an alternative tricast bet many punters like to use: combination tricast bet.
With the latter, you need to pick which 3 horses will end the race inside the top 3 in no exact order.
Virtual Sports Types
Virtual sports are computer simulations, the outcome of which is randomly generated, similar to how each spin you make on a casino slot has an outcome predetermined – you watch the numbers spin and wait for the result.
But unlike casino slots, virtual sports are much more enjoyable to watch, as you see graphics similar to a video game such as NBA2K or EA Sports FC, assuming you’re betting on virtual basketball or football. It’s important to note that the graphics you will watch will differ depending on the sport you’re betting on, and commonly it will only show important moments of the game. There is the list of the most popular virtual sports:
Football
Horse Racing
Greyhound Racing
Motor Racing
Tennis
Basketball
How to Bet Real Money on Virtual Sports
I will look at a few things you need to know if you want to bet on virtual sports with real money.
Before you can start wagering your money, you need to register on a virtual sports betting site. There are many you can choose from, but not all are great.
You must only use reputable and legal bookies with great odds and those that cover all the virtual sports you want to bet on.
While betting on virtual sports, also make sure to check whether the sportsbook has any bonuses, promotions, or any other betting offers ready such as free bets, deposit bonuses, and anything in between.
Virtual sports betting is gambling, so there are no silver bullets to making you rich. Instead, use it for entertainment, like casino games and slots.
Bottom Line
Before I end my guide, here are some interesting facts about virtual sports betting you might not know about.
Virtual sports feature imaginary players and teams, meaning there are no tournaments or competitors like you would find with traditional sports. Different software developers might offer versions of football or horse racing leagues, but none are akin to the UEFA Champions League.
Some popular virtual sports include virtual football, horse racing, motorsports, greyhound racing, and basketball.
Virtual sports betting is famous worldwide, but the USA 🇺🇸, Australia 🇦🇺, Singapore 🇸🇬, Ireland 🇮🇪, Canada 🇨🇦, and Finland 🇫🇮 are the 6 countries where people gamble the most.
Virtual sports are similar to their traditional counterparts, but they are much closer to casino games or slots based on how they operate.
That concludes my in-depth guide, teaching you everything you need to know about choosing the best sportsbooks for virtual sports. Now you’re ready to explore a new and unique way of online gambling!
Tim is our betting guru. Every gaming site needs one, and Tim’s our guy. He has plenty of experience in betting online and is quite successful at it. Tim’s favorite sports are hockey, baseball, and Esports. Tim believes the latter to be the future of betting.
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