Best Virtual Horse Racing Betting Sites

Virtual Horse Racing Explained 

Virtual Horse Racing Explained

Virtual horse racing is a form of online entertainment that offers the thrills of regular horse racing with a crucial difference. When you bet on virtual horse racing, you’ll be putting your wager on a digitally simulated horse rather than a real-life animal in a real-life race. That’s not to say it feels fake. High-quality graphics and sound effects make virtual horse racing look and feel as close as possible to the real thing. This all makes it just as thrilling to watch the horses jockey for position as they approach the finish line.

As virtual horse racing, and indeed virtual sports in general, grow in popularity, there’s never been a better time to get involved. Our guide to virtual race betting gives you the essential information on this online opportunity. From the pros and cons of virtual racing to the different bet types and the bonuses available at the UK’s top bookies, we’ve got you covered.

The Pros and Cons of Betting on Virtual Horse Racing

As with any form of online gambling, there are both advantages and drawbacks to betting on virtual horse racing. Let’s take a closer look.

Pros

No Need to Wait for Race Day

Virtual horse races start every few minutes, 24/7. There’s no waiting around for races to start and no delays, official decisions, poor weather, or non-runners either. Its readily available nature means you can bet on virtual horse racing whenever the mood strikes.

Realistic Technology

Recent years have seen significant improvements to the software used to power virtual horse racing and other virtual sports. In turn, punters enjoy an authentic experience complete with first-rate graphics, realistic soundtracks and flawless streaming.

Fast Results

There’s no need for officials to make any decisions or analyse photo finishes in virtual horse racing. This efficiency means you’ll know the outcome of your wager just as soon as the race finishes and see any potential winnings land in your account faster.

Beginner-Friendly

As with many online casino games, a random number generator (RNG) determines the result of virtual horse races. There’s no benefit to studying past races, which makes virtual racing betting ideal for newbies who are getting to grips with online wagering.

Completely Fair

The use of RNG technology means that wagering on virtual horse racing is fair. There aren’t any unnatural advantages at play and there are no official decisions to sway the results one way or another. For bettors who enjoy games of pure chance, virtual racing fits the bill perfectly.

Cons

Less Atmosphere

While developers have included sports commentary and the sounds of crowds in their virtual horse racing software, let’s be honest – this can never truly replicate the atmosphere of real racing. Whether you’re watching a bustling event from home or cheering on your horse beside the track at Cheltenham or Aintree, real horse racing has a magic of its own.

Form Doesn’t Count

In real life racing, bettors can study the form of both horses and jockeys to try to predict future outcomes. Past performance doesn’t count a jot in virtual racing, which – as noted earlier – makes it less intimidating for newbie bettors. But seasoned racing buffs may miss the ability to research races and make informed strategic betting decisions.

Virtual Horse Racing Markets

Race Winner

The simplest of all virtual horse racing markets, a race winner bet requires you to pick the horse you believe will win the race. This is arguably the quintessential horse racing wager. 

Each Way

Each way bets allow you to back a horse to win but still get some money back from your wager if your horse finishes second or third instead. In other words, an each-way wager comprises two wagers in one. 

Forecast

With a forecast bet, you’re predicting which two horses and jockeys will finish in first and second place, and in what order. Some bookies also offer a reverse forecast market. These bets still require you to pick the top two finishers, but you won’t need to specify the order. 

Tricast

A tricast bet is much like a forecast bet but gives you the option to predict the top three finishers in order rather than just two. Reverse tricasts see bettors picking three horses to finish in the top three places in any order. 

Betting on Virtual Horse Racing In-Play

We know it is a staple to place bets as sporting events are underway. Unfortunately, however, in-play betting is not yet available on virtual race betting, so you’ll be restricted to placing your wagers before each race starts. It’s not all bad news, though! In-play betting for virtual sports is an area that’s seeing some movement. The B2B software developer Betradar, for example, has already introduced in-play betting markets for virtual tennis and virtual baseball and has plans to introduce live betting for additional sports in the future. 

Virtual horse racing doesn’t lend itself quite so well to in-play betting markets, but as software developers are constantly working to improve the product, there’s every possibility that live betting options may become available in the future. Be sure to check back with Compare.bet for all the latest news on the virtual race betting space.

Claiming Virtual Horse Racing Bonus

Virtual horse racing is an increasingly popular pastime among bettors, so it’s no surprise that bookies are offering bonuses and promos to attract punters. Let’s have a look at some of the more common bonuses punters can claim at the best betting site. 

Free Bets

A free bet bonus is exactly what it sounds like. The bookie will let you place a certain amount in wagers without risking your own money. You may be awarded free bets just for signing up, with no deposit required. However, a minimum deposit or wager is more commonly required to unlock the bonus. An example of a free bet promotion might be ‘bet £10 and get a £20 free bet’. 

Matched Deposits

Matched deposit bonuses give you bonus funds in proportion to how much you pay into your account. The percentage matched varies but can be 100% or more. A typical example might be ‘100% up to £250’. Here, a bettor who deposits £75 will earn an extra £75 in free bet credits, but can claim up to £250 if their first deposit meets that figure.

Ready to Bet on Virtual Horse Racing?

Ready to put some wagers down? Check out our list of top UK bookies to find the perfect place to bet on virtual horse racing online. You can check our bookmaker reviews to find practical information on things like banking, betting markets and loyalty schemes, then follow our links to sign up and claim your welcome bonuses whenever you’re ready.