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Virtual horse racing is now hugely popular. Computerised races take place every couple of minutes online, offering an alternative to the traditional form of sports betting. In fact, an estimated 25% of horse racing bets are now on virtual events, with many leading bookies offering such markets. This page will outline the best virtual horse racing betting sites, as well as explaining exactly how virtual horse racing betting works.
Latest Virtual Horse Racing News
Silks, the first NFT horse racing game based on real-world thoroughbred racehorses, is set to launch and digital art will imitate real-world action on the racetracks of America.
Each Silks Horse NFT you purchase is linked to an actual thoroughbred racehorse, allowing you to experience the thrill of thoroughbred ownership, but there’s more.
Earn from your Silks Horse based on their real-world counterpart’s performance on and off the track. Unlock token rewards every time your racehorse wins real races or breeds offspring.
You’ll even have the ability to purchase NFTs for Land and Stables in the Silks virtual metaverse where you can house your Silks Horses and establish your place in an immersive community.
To access the Game of Silks, you’ll need to secure a Silks Avatar NFT which will represent your unique identity in this groundbreaking world. The Silks Genesis Avatar collection whitelist sale begins 27 April. There’s a limited supply so connect your wallet now to get early access.
The first batch of Silks Horses drop later this year with Land and Stables to follow. So don’t miss out on all the action, come join the new reality of thoroughbred horse racing. Welcome to Silks!
18+ begambleaware.org. Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. Free bet stakes not included in any winnings from the free fixed odds bets. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused.
Once the bet is settled, get a £10 free fixed odds bet plus a £5 free Total Goals football spread bet and a £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet. The second £10 free fixed odds bet, £5 free Total Goals football spread bet, and £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet will be credited 24 hours later. Free bet stakes not included in any winnings from the free fixed odds bets. The free fixed odds bet can be placed by ticking the 'Claim as Free Bet' button on your bet slip when placing your chosen fixed odds bet. The free bet can be placed in-play but cannot be cashed out in-play and must run to the conclusion of the bet.
You need to open a full sports spread betting account to use the 2 x £5 free Total Goals football spread bets and 2 x £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet. Whilst these are free bets, please remember that when Spread betting it is possible to incur losses that exceed your initial stake. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused. Promotions available to 18+ aged individuals who are registered customers of Spreadex.
Spreadex
Privately Held
1999
St Albans, UK
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets
23/03/21
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets
Generous promotions for new and existing customers
Place a bet of £5 within 14 days of signing up at Coral and claim £20 worth of free bets (4x £5 tokens). Minimum odds of 1/2, free bets are valid for 7 days, with stakes not being returned. PayPal and some other payment methods are excluded. Full T&Cs apply.
Sign up today and place a £5 on any sport and Coral will give you an instant £20 in free bets. Open a new online, mobile or telephone account with Coral. Deposit and bet £5 on any sport. Coral will give you an instant four x £5 free bets. Your account will be topped up automatically as soon as you place your bet. All Coral ask is that you choose a sport market at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or bigger.
Receive £20 worth of free bets (4x £5 tokens) when you sign up and stake £5+ on sports markets at Ladbrokes. Free bets are valid for 7 days, with stakes not being returned, while deposits made using prepaid cards, Moneybookers, Paypal, Paysafe, Neteller or Skrill will not qualify.
To claim this Sports Promotion, you must register a NEW account, making a deposit of £/€5 or more and the first bet on your account must be a Qualifying Bet/s. If you don’t follow these steps the free bets will not be applied to your account. 7. The Qualifying bet/s will be made of a real money sports bet of at least £/€5 win or cumulative stakes of up to £/€5 , at fractional odds totalling 1/2 or greater. For a single line accumulator bet, each individual selection of the bet must at fractional odds of 1/2 or greater to be deemed a Qualifying Bet. Please note that only the win parts of win/each-way bets will qualify.
New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any Football market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply.
Open a new account using promo code YSKWDX Deposit a minimum of £10 using cards Place a Sportsbook bet on Football. For the purposes of this promotion, your first ever settled bet will be counted as the qualifying bet. Qualifying requirements must be completed within 90 days of account opening. If your qualifying bet is settled as a loser we will refund you stake in CASH Maximum refund is £20.
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
What you need to do: Opt In to this promotion. Make a deposit via debit card. Place your first bet of £10 or more at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. You must do this within 7 days of registering an account. Each customer is only eligible to receive one Welcome Offer across our sports and casino offers, regardless of whether they open additional accounts with BetVictor, Parimatch or any other brand that we operate. Plus 100 Free Spins on our Big Bass Bonanza slot: Launch the Big Bass Bonanza slot to activate your Free Spins. Any winnings you receive will be credited into your cash withdrawable balance. Are valued at 10p a spin.
The offer's open to new customers, aged 18 or over, in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland using promo code VAL225. Deposit using a Debit Card or ApplePay. Place a qualifying bet of maximum £20, within 7 days of account opening. Your bet must settle in this period too. If your bet loses, we will refund your stake in cash, up to a maximum of £20. Refund will be processed within 72 hours after your bet has settled.
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply.
Place a sports bet of minimum £1 with odds 2/5 (1.40) or greater. Each leg of a multiple bet must be over 2/5 (1.40) for the bet to qualify. Bets placed on horse racing, greyhound racing, trotting and/or virtual sports will not qualify for the money back as bonus offer. If your first sports bet wins, you have completed the bonus, you will receive your winnings and your stake. If your first sports bet loses, you will receive your stake back up to a maximum of £40 in bonus money. If you received £40 bonus money you need to bet £120 to complete the bonus conditions.
We’ve enhanced our UK Sportsbook Welcome Offer. Get 50% Back as a Free Bet up to £35 (normally £25) plus 10 Free Spins! A minimum of 3 bets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater is required to qualify for the max free bet, which is based on 50% back of first day losses. Even if your account is up, a single £10 Bet at the minimum odds, secures a £5 Free Bet & 10 Free Spins. UK 18+T&C’s
To activate your Sportsbook 50% Back as a Free Bet up to £35 and 10 Free Spins, simply deposit and bet on any Sportsbook markets of your choice (horse racing, football, tennis, darts etc) at minimum odds of evens (2.00) or greater. At least 3 bets (on different selections) must be placed to qualify for 50% back, 2 of which must be 50% in value of the largest bet you place. Provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at minimum odds evens (2.00) or greater you're guaranteed a £5 Free Bet and 10 Free Spins either way. Sportsbook losses are calculated from the time of your first settled bet until 23:59 the same day. Only settled bets from the first day of Sportsbook bets qualify for inclusion. Casino losses qualify separately under QuinnCasino 50% Cashback Welcome Offer. If at the end of the day (23:59) your account has losses overall, you will get 50% back as a free bet up to a maximum of £35 plus 10 Free Spins.
How We Rank the Best Virtual Horse Racing Sites
With so many betting sites now offering virtual horse racing markets, deciding which to take advantage of can be tricky. However, punters can rest assured that our suggested bookies are nothing but reliable and entertaining. When ranking such operators, we consider the following factors:
Safety – First and foremost, all of our recommended betting sites are safe, legal and reliable. Each holds a license from the UK Gambling Commission, while they all ensure for the security of user details at all times.
Markets – A large number of virtual horse racing markets are available with our recommended bookies. New races start every couple of minutes, meaning that there is no shortage of options for punters.
Odds – Just like real-life horse racing betting, odds available should be competitive and offer value. Our recommended bookies do just that. As a result, significant winnings can be made.
Software – Virtual races are delivered by the top software providers. As such, punters can look forward to top quality graphics and additional features which add to the user experience.
Fairness – The fairness of virtual betting is sometimes brought into question. However, our recommended bookies are 100% fair. Each race is determined by algorithms and random number generators.
Promotions – Specific to virtual markets or more generic, promotions are available in a variety of formats at our top ranked betting sites. Welcome offers, free bets and cashback offers are among them. Be sure to take into account the expiry dates involved.
Mobile – All virtual horse racing markets and features are accessible on mobile devices too. Whether it be an easy to use mobile site or mobile app, customers on the go are well catered for.
What is Virtual Horse Racing & How Does it Work?
Virtual horse racing involves computer generated meetings. Virtual horse racing results are determined by random number generators. Races take place at both fictional and well-known tracks, with most bookies offering flat and jump options. The same betting options are generally available to, including race winner, each way, tricast and forecasts.
Punters are able to study form guides before betting, with runners and riders being displayed like in real horse racing. Races take place every few minutes with the leading bookies, with top software providers helping to deliver fantastic graphics and realness.
Virtual horse racing is 100% fair with our recommended bookies. The use of random number generators ensures that this is the case at all times. The “form” of computer generated runners is still taken into account, however the favourites are certainly not guaranteed to win.
Virtual Betting Cards & Virtual Horse Racing Bet Types
There are undoubtedly less variables to consider when placing virtual horse racing bets. As such, virtual horse race cards are easier to understand, which is one of the benefits attracting punters. There are never non-runners, while races are never cancelled due to poor weather. With no concerns surrounding starting prices either, punters only have to concern themselves with the start time, runners, odds and bet types. In terms of the type of virtual horse races found online today, it is the following in which punters in the UK are likely to come across:
Flat Racing – The simplest form of racing, here runners compete on a flat surface, with no jumps or hurdles to overcome. Virtual races are likely to be significantly shorter, however the exact time differs between bookies.
Jump Racing – Hurdles and steeplechases are among the jump races in real life. While there will unlikely be such distinction on betting sites, virtual jump races are certainly available. The number and type of jumps is not really important however.
Sprint Racing – Similar to flat races, sprint races are generally quicker than others. At some betting sites, there will be little or no difference between flat and sprint racing.
Grand National – The virtual Grand National is the biggest event in the virtual betting world. The race is created by Inspired Entertainment, with computer generated versions of real life runners being involved. The race takes place on a virtual version of Aintree Racecourse. A license and association with the Jockey Club means that the likeness is excellent. Horses can fall and pull up, while jockeys can unseat. With commentary and a packed grandstand also featuring, the virtual Grand National attracts millions in bets.
When it comes to virtual horse racing odds, prices will generally be offered surrounding the following bet types:
Win – The easiest form of bet to understand. Here, punters pick the horse they believe will cross the finishing post first.
Each Way – A two-part bet. Half of the total stake goes on the runner to win and the other half to place. This costs double that of a traditional win bet. Returns are guaranteed should your pick place.
Tricast – Here, punters must predict which runners will finish in the top 3 positions, with the exact order not being important.
Forecast – A straight forecast means predicting the finishing order of the horses in first and second in a race.
Why Bet on Virtual Horse Racing?
There are a number of advantages to betting on virtual races, especially when compared to real life meetings. Firstly, the number of markets means that punters can almost bet on demand. Taking place every couple of minutes at our recommended sites, there is never a need to wait too long for the next race. There is also no danger of races being cancelled because of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances.
As well as this, some see virtual horse racing as more ethical. This is because real life races often lead to horses and jockeys being hurt. However, features such as cash out and promotions may not be available on virtual markets, so take this into account when adding to your betslip.
18+ begambleaware.org. Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. Free bet stakes not included in any winnings from the free fixed odds bets. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused.
Once the bet is settled, get a £10 free fixed odds bet plus a £5 free Total Goals football spread bet and a £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet. The second £10 free fixed odds bet, £5 free Total Goals football spread bet, and £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet will be credited 24 hours later. Free bet stakes not included in any winnings from the free fixed odds bets. The free fixed odds bet can be placed by ticking the 'Claim as Free Bet' button on your bet slip when placing your chosen fixed odds bet. The free bet can be placed in-play but cannot be cashed out in-play and must run to the conclusion of the bet.
You need to open a full sports spread betting account to use the 2 x £5 free Total Goals football spread bets and 2 x £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bet. Whilst these are free bets, please remember that when Spread betting it is possible to incur losses that exceed your initial stake. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused. Promotions available to 18+ aged individuals who are registered customers of Spreadex.
Spreadex
Privately Held
1999
St Albans, UK
Virtual Horse Racing Software Providers
Virtual racing markets come from a host of software providers. Each comes with slightly different graphics and features. Many of our recommended betting sites take advantage of software from Inspired Entertainment. However, Betradar and Playtech are two other well known organisations. Such providers are well known for their quick loading times and streaming quality. Lagging or glitches rarely occur. The quality of such providers means that it can even be difficult to distinguish between virtual and real life races. Meanwhile, the top providers also ensure that virtual racing performs as well on desktop platforms as it does on mobile devices.
Inspired Entertainment
Inspired create content for a huge number of betting operators, while they are behind the hugely popular Virtual Grand National. Founded in 2014, the company has an outstanding reputation within the industry, with their graphics and features being unrivalled.
Playtech
This is the world’s largest online gaming software supplier, having been active since 1999. Playtech is best known for its cutting edge live casino and roulette software as well as association with Coral. However, they deliver virtual markets for a host of bookies.
Betradar
Founded in 2001, Betradar delivers virtual horse races every 2 minutes for many betting sites. Races come with historical results and odds, with live race rankings and excellent streaming quality also featuring. Many races are also accompanied by commentary.
Things to Consider With Virtual Horse Racing
You should now have a much clearer understanding regarding just how virtual horse racing works. However, before placing your first bet, there are some important factors to consider. The following are our top virtual horse racing tips:
There is no way of influencing the outcome of races. Fair random number generators determine results.
Looking to carry out research surrounding the past form or runners and riders is pointless, as such information does not exist.
In most cases, bookies will be unable to use the real names of horses, jockeys and racecourses. This is as a result of licensing agreements, with the virtual Grand National being one of the few exceptions.
Remember that the shorter the odds, the better chances that the runner will win. Taking responsible gambling into account, be sure not to bet on every race too.
Take advantage of all available bet types, with most bookies offering win, each way, tricast and forecast options. Such bets are available right up until races start, with no expiry dates being involved.
Other Popular Betting Markets
If virtual horse racing is not for you, then fear not, with our experts having created a number of additional betting guides too. At safebettingsites, we aim to cater for all types of betting customers, with the following betting guides being among the most popular on our site.
Having read all of the information on this page, it should come as no surprise that virtual horse racing is growing rapidly in popularity. With races starting every couple of minutes at top betting sites, there has never been a better time to get involved. With all of the excitement and drama from the real life sport being incorporated, many punters are turning to virtual markets. The realistic graphics and level of detail means that some even prefer this form of betting. So, be sure to check out our top 10 virtual horse racing betting sites for yourself, before backing virtual runners and riders in flat and jumps races from computer generated racecourses on a regular basis.
FAQ’s
How long do virtual horse races last for?
Virtual races normally last for a matter of minutes, meaning that punters do not have to wait long to find out whether they have backed a winner. A new race takes place every 2 or 3 minutes at most betting sites.
Can I look at form guides in order to aid my betting on virtual racing markets?
No. The vast majority of virtual races come with no form guide, with the Virtual Grand National being one of the few exceptions to this rule.
Is virtual horse racing fair?
Yes! All race results are determined by random number generators. As such, punters should have no concerns in this area, similar to when playing casino games online.
Do real life horses and jockeys feature?
In most cases, no. The majority of races feature fictitious runners and riders, however the Grand National is once again an exception. The 40 runners and riders involved are based on real-life.
Which is the best betting site for virtual racing?
We have put forward our favourite betting sites for virtual horse racing on this page. Each comes with its own set of benefits. So, be sure to check them out for yourself, before deciding which best suits your needs.
James Fuller
Betting Expert
James Fuller is a sports journalist based in Bath, England. Specializing in sports and iGaming, he has worked for a variety of leading online publications in the past, having first created content for safebettingsites in 2020. James also has a degree in Sport & Leisure Management from Sheffield Hallam University.
He also has a certificate in Football Communication & Digital Media from the Sports Business Institute in Barcelona, which James has used to help brands enhace their following and reputation on online platforms. With almost a decade of experience in sports writing to his name, James has received outstanding feedback from existing and former clients.