The Best UK Virtual Horse Racing Betting Sites in 2024

Our Top 10 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Sites

As you can see from our list above, there are many virtual horse racing betting sites you can choose from. Like with any types of betting, some operators offer a better experience than others. Let's take a look at our top ten choices for online virtual horse racing.

#1 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – William Hill

Featuring heavily in many top ten lists, it's no surprise to see William Hill top our list either. They are an excellent choice for a virtual race. There are a variety of virtual sports to bet on, including greyhound racing, football and motorsports. It's with horse racing, though, where this bookmaker really excels. Choose from jump racing, flat racing and sprint races, with a new race available every two minutes.

• Great selection of virtual horses
  

• Free bets options available for general sports betting
  

• One of the UK's favourite betting sites
  

#2 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – Betfred

Fans of virtual events and sports will already be aware of Betfred's repertoire. There's a huge range of virtual markets you can bet on here, including greyhound racing, cycling, darts, football and, of course, online virtual horse races. You'll find a range of flat races available here. In addition to flat racing, sprint races and jump racing are also available. A new race is available to bet on every two to three minutes.

• Excellent virtual events and sports options
  

• Live race rankings
  

• Virtual sports feeds
  

#3 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – 10bet

There is a superb range of virtual events and sports available at 10bet. From basketball to tennis, from cycling to ice hockey, there are few betting sites who can compete with what 10bet can offer. The same goes for virtual horse racing. There are new races every four minutes here, with a variety of bet types available.

• Great place for virtual sport fans
  

• Huge range of virtual markets
  

• Great variety of virtual horse racing odds
  

#4 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – 888sport

Another bookmaker with a range of virtual events and sports options, 888sport offer an intuitive experience for virtual horse racing bet fans. Instant horses are available to you once you log in to your betting account.

• Instant access to virtual horse racing odds
  

• Good range of virtual sport options
  

• Variety of virtual race options
  

#5 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – Unibet

Fans of real races will be well aware of what Unibet offer, and their virtual version of horse racing is just as impressive. A relatively new addition to their site, Unibet's virtual racing section features races taking place every two minutes. There are various bet types you can use too, with Forecast and Tricast bets options for you.

• Good range of promotions and Free bets for general betting
  

• New virtual sport facility
  

• Good range of virtual racing options
  

#6 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – QuinnBet

A bookmaker becoming a popular choice with many bettors, QuinnBet offer a comprehensive virtual events and sports betting service. There's a variety of virtual options here, including greyhound racing and motor sports. For horse racing bets, there are jumps races available to bet on, in addition to general virtual horse race bets starting every three minutes.

• Good variety of virtual racing options
  

• Great choices for virtual betting
  

• Live virtual horse racing results
  

#7 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – Hollywoodbets

Another bookmaker who are making a name for themselves in the industry is Hollywoodbets. Just like their options on real life horse racing, there's a good range of options for you with this bookmaker. Sprint racing and virtual jump races are available here, with races starting every two minutes.

• Array of virtual horse racing odds
  

• Good choice of virtual horse racing markets
  

• Virtual races throughout the day
  

#8 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – Star Sports

A bookmaker gaining fame for their range of sports promotions, Star Sports also offer an extensive virtual sports facility. For those of you who want to bet on a virtual race, take a look at what this operator can offer. Like most online bookmakers, there are races starting every few minutes at this betting site.

• Range of virtual sports markets
  

• Plenty of virtual race options
  

• Promotions available
  

#9 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – Boylesports

Well established within the industry, Boylesports have a fantastic range of virtual horse race markets, as well as other virtual sports. You have a range of betting options here, with sprint racing one of many virtual events.

• Different betting options available
  

• Variety of bet types
  

• Virtual races available throughout the day
  

#10 Virtual Horse Racing Betting Site – The Pools

An operator making waves in the virtual world is The Pools. There are a range of options for you with this betting site with cycling, football and tennis amongst your choices. There are also a number of virtual races you can bet on here, with races starting every couple of minutes.

• Great choice for general virtual sport fans
  

• A variety of virtual races
  

• Available throughout the day
  

Compare Best Virtual Horse Racing Sites

Our top choices succeed in many different areas of betting on virtual racing. The comparison table below shows each operator's main strength and what they specifically excel in.

How We Rank The Best Virtual Horse Racing Sites

When you're looking to bet on virtual races, particularly if you're new to the genre, it can be a confusing task trying to find the best operator. There are many aspects that should be considered before you sign up to any bookmaker. In general betting, competitive odds, range of markets, betting options and variety of sports options are all considerations. The same can be said of virtual sports betting. While the betting approach to a virtual horse race is different to that of betting on real world thoroughbred racehorses, what we look for in our rankings is similar.

Design

The design and layout of a bookmaker website is incredibly important with virtual racing. As you watch virtual races on your screen, the layout should be clean and clear to ensure a joyful betting experience. In addition, quick loading times are key. In general, navigation around the site is important too. It's also vital you have access to a good internet connection to prevent or ease any buffering issues.

Mobile and App

As we touched upon above, the design of a website is key to enjoyable betting. The same can be said of mobile performance and apps. Most bookmakers offer some form of mobile betting, whether that's a mobile-friendly version of the site or a dedicated betting app.

Bonuses and Promotions

Another aspect that could enhance your betting experience is the offering of promotions. Most bookmakers offer some sort of promotion, whether the aim is to attract new customers to their ranks or to reward the loyalty of their current customer base. In fact, most bookmakers offer a range of bonuses and Free bets. There are, though, very few promotions for virtual sports bettors and many new customer bonuses exclude virtual sports in the terms and conditions.

Note that for any promotion or bonus offer, whether that's a sports bonus, a casino bonus or a virtual sports offer, qualifying bets or minimum odds requirements may apply, amongst other terms and conditions. Ensure that you understand all the t's and c's of any offer, including minimum deposit, minimum odds and qualifying bet requirements before you attempt to claim any offer.

Events

While this guide is heavily focused on virtual racing, we've also considered what other virtual events are available. Having a range of different virtual sports and events available can be one way of telling that a betting site takes this version of betting seriously. Our top choices all offer a variety of virtual events and sports you can bet on. You can find virtual football, greyhound racing, cycling, motor sports, tennis and more at our top bookmakers.

Markets

In virtual racing, there are only a handful of markets available to bet on. Most betting sites only offer the Win and Each Way market on virtual races. There are, though, some who offer Forecast and Tricast options.

Visuals

Another key aspect to virtual racing is how smooth the animation is. We looked at this briefly earlier when we discussed the design of a website. Many operators offer incredibly realistic animation, which can add to an enjoyable betting experience. The best operators in our research used the top providers, including Inspired Entertainment and Betradar, who we'll discuss in a little more detail shortly.

What Is Virtual Horse Racing And How Does It Work?

Many expect virtual racing betting to be similar to betting on real life horse racing. Of course, you're betting on a race winner, or another available market, but that's pretty much where the similarity ends.

When we talk about betting on general sports, we always make the point of doing your betting research. We discuss points such as analysing form, looking at weather conditions, the length of the race, ground conditions and so on. With virtual racing, none of these factors apply.

At its most basic, essentially betting on virtual racing is similar to betting on particular casino games or the lottery. A computer algorithm decides the reels on the slots, or which numbered ball is pulled from a lottery machine. In virtual races, random number generators decide the winning horse.

What do we mean when we say random number generators? The odds on each horse are dictated by how likely it is a particular number will be generated. The shorter the odds, the more likely the generator will choose that specific horse. The longer the odds, the less likely it is that horse will be chosen to win. That doesn't mean to say that only the favourites will win, though. It just means that the previous results of a particular horse and their overall rating have an impact on the result of their next race.

For this reason, many ask is virtual horse racing fixed. The short answer is no. All legal UK bookmakers are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission who ensure fairness and transparency.

Betting on a virtual race follows a similar process to betting on a real life horse. Simply choose the horse you think will win, enter your stake and place your bet. Just as when a selected racehorse wins real races, if your horse passes the animated post first, you win your bet.

The horses and jockeys are computer generated, as are the racecourses. There are, though, virtual versions of real life courses available to bet on, such as a virtual Grand National betting or National Hunt. There's not any particular pattern to betting on virtual events. There are also racing guides and betting tips analysing form of both horses and jockeys for the virtual version although, as we've looked at, these aren't particularly helpful and are seemingly only available to add to the drama and showmanship of the event.

As with all betting, placing wagers on virtual events should be for entertainment only. There is no sure-fire way to win. It's imperative you keep a close eye on your bankroll and only bet what you can afford to lose.

Virtual Betting Cards & Virtual Horse Racing Types

Betting on a virtual race is arguably a more simple process than betting on an actual thoroughbred racehorse, for example. There are some similarities, with flat, sprint and jump racing available. We'll come to the different racing types in a moment. Firstly, we'll take a look at standard virtual horse racing cards.

Generally, virtual racecards will feature six or eight horses. Just as you would with real life horse betting, you pick a horse to win, bet each way or place Forecast and Tricast bets, if your bookmaker allows for it. The price, or odds, of each horse, don't change. There are never any non-runners or false starts as you might expect with real life racing. Place your bet and watch the animation provided to see if your selection crosses the post first.

As we've touched upon, there are various racing types available, just like you'd find with thoroughbred horse racing, for instance. These include Sprints, Jump races and Flat racing. You can also bet on the virtual Grand National. In addition to the Grand National, you can find virtual equivalents of many famous racecourses.

• Jumps: This racing type is available at a variety of bookmakers. Races like steeplechases make up the jumps. Hurdles are the second major jump race available. You might also have the opportunity to bet on bumpers courses. The Grand National is an example of a jumps race.

• Flats: Flat racing is the exactly what its name suggests. The course doesn't feature any jumps or bumps. Real life examples of a flat race include the Epsom Derby and The St Leger.

• Sprints: Sprint racing courses also don't feature any jumps or hurdles. Instead, as with flat racing, it's one straight course, though generally are speedier.

Virtual Horse Racing Bet Types

Most bookmakers offer a variety of bet types to use in conjunction with your virtual horse betting. They all feature the Win and Each Way markets, with many also offer Forecast and Tricast betting, too. Let's take a look at how each bet type works now.

Win

The Win market is by far the simplest bet type to use. Simply put, you bet on a particular horse to win the race. If your selection does just that, you'll receive winnings based on the odds you took and your stake. If your selection doesn't win, you don't win anything back and you lose your stake.

Each Way

Each Way betting is an incredibly popular bet type. It can also give you a little extra security for your stake. Bet Each Way means you place a bet on a particular horse to either win or to place. Place generally means first or second, though some operators offer extra places, depending on how many runners and riders there are. For our example, we'll say the bookie is offering two places. So, bet Each Way on a horse, and if it crosses the post first, you win your bet at the odds specified. If your horse finishes second, you'll still receive some form of winnings. If your horse finishes outside the top two, you don't win anything. Generally, Each Way odds are a quarter of the original odds. To bet Each Way also requires double the stake of a straight Win bet.

Tricast

A Tricast bet carries much greater risk than the previous two bet types we've looked at. It can, however, offer a greater reward. With a Tricast bet, you choose which horses you think will finish in the top three. You don't have to get the order right with this type of bet, you simply select the first three finishing horses.

Forecast

A Forecast bet is similar to a tricast, though with this type of bet the order in which the horses finish is important. To win a Forecast bet, you must correctly select which horses will finish in first and second place.

Virtual Horse Racing Software Providers

As with casino games, virtual horse racing is offered by a range of different software providers. The biggest names in the industry provide realistic animation of horse racing, adding to the excitement and enjoyment of betting on virtual horse racing.

Inspired Entertainment

Inspired Entertainment are a hugely respected software provider. They also created the virtual Grand National, amongst many other famous sporting events. They work with a number of well established bookmakers, including William Hill and Betfred.

Virtual Horse Racing Sites Powered By Inspired Entertainment

• William Hill

• Betfred

• Quinnbet

• The Pools

Kiron Interactive

Another software provider held in high regard is Kiron Interactive. Making up part of their repertoire is their virtual reality sports facilities. They provide a range of sports to a variety of bookmakers, including virtual horse racing.

Virtual Horse Racing Sites Powered By Kiron Interactive

• The Pools

Betradar

The third major player in bookmaker virtual horse racing is Betradar. They provide a range of virtual events and sports, working with, amongst others, one of our top bookmaker choices VBET.

Virtual Horse Racing Sites Powered By Betradar

• VBET

How to Bet on Virtual Horse Racing

To start betting on virtual horse racing online, you will need to create a bookmaker account. We've given you our top choices at the start of this guide, but you're welcome to pick any betting site that you wish.

Head over to your chosen betting site and hit the Register or Join icon. You'll usually find this icon in the top right of the bookmaker landing page. The registration form will then load up.

Complete all sections of the registration form. It's important that the information you enter is valid and accurate. Any false information could lead to your account being suspended or deleted, as per the regulations of the UK Gambling Commission.

Once you've completed all sections of the registration form and accepted all associated terms and conditions, hit the Join button.

You will then have access to the virtual horse racing events available on your chosen site.

Note that when you sign up to a bookmaker, there could be new customer offers available. These could come many different forms, such as Free bets, a deposit match or a money back special. You might need to make a qualifying deposit or qualifying bets to receive the offer. Make sure you read all terms and conditions before you attempt to sign up to any betting site.

Once you've signed up, you have full access to the virtual world of sports. This includes odds and markets, as well as virtual racing results UK.

So, to start betting on virtual horse racing, follow the steps below:

1. Head over to the betting site of your choice

2. Complete the registration form

3. Make a qualifying deposit or qualifying bets, if required

4. Head to the Virtual section of the operator site

5. Choose your race

6. Place your bet

Virtual Horse Racing Tips

When we give horse rating betting tips, we focus on research. We advise you look at and analyse form and weather conditions, amongst other aspects. With virtual horse racing tips, however, these are not considerations. That isn't to say, though, that you shouldn't take your virtual betting as seriously as your real life horse racing betting.

• All betting is for entertainment and you should always make sure you have a tight hold on your bankroll and only bet what you can afford to lose.

• With virtual racing, there is no such thing as form. Sure, a star rating on a particular virtual horse might indicate it has a higher chance of winning, or it has won a few times previously, but this should be taken with a pinch of salt. Random number generators dictate the way a race plays out. Typical or standard betting research has little impact on your success or failure in virtual betting.

• We also suggest when you bet on real life events that you look out for offers and promotions. With virtual racing markets, you're not as likely to find a virtual bonus as easily as you would a sports bonus or a casino bonus. There are some bookmakers though, such as Betfred, who do offer a variety of virtual racing promotions regularly. If you do decide to take up an offer, such as Free bets, there are certain aspects to remember. A qualifying bet might be required, or a minimum deposit or stake required to activate Free bets. Make sure you read all the terms and conditions of any offer before you part with any funds.

• As with all betting, it's hugely important you don't chase your losses. It's a good idea to set aside a set amount that you're willing to bet with and you can afford to lose. Once these funds have ran out, it can be tempting to add to the pot, which increases the likelihood of you overspending. Set a deposit limit, all bookmakers offer this functionality. This will prevent you from spending more than you were willing to originally.

Why Bet On Virtual Horse Racing?

There are a number of reasons why virtual racing betting has gained such a huge number of fans in recent years. Let's now take a look at some of the main attractions to the virtual side of betting.

• Betting knowledge. With general sports betting, a huge reason for success is knowledge. Knowing the sport, the players, recent form, injuries, anything that can have an impact on the result of an event is important to know. With virtual racing betting, this isn't the case. You don't need to know the previous results of a particular horse, you don't need to know how a particular jockey is performing, how old the horse is, who trains it and so on. You can just simply bet on the horse of your choice. This can also be a negative, though. It's a great feeling when you've done your research and think you've found a value bet and you turn out to be correct.

• Ease of use. There are virtual racing events held all day every day. No matter the time, you can find a virtual race to bet on. Most bookmakers have races starting every two to four minutes, meaning you constantly have an opportunity to place a bet.

• Simple. In real life horses, there are many factors that can dictate how a race plays out. A horse could get stuck in the stalls, could fall, the jockey could make a mistake, the jockey could dismount and so on. In virtual racing, none of these factors apply. You simply place your bet and watch as all the runners and riders cross the finishing line.

Pros & Cons Of Virtual Racing

There are many positives and negatives to betting on virtual racing odds.

Pros

• A new race every few minutes throughout the day

• Superb animation with the majority of bookies

• Very easy for those new to betting to understand

Cons

• Lack of passion and atmosphere

• Easy to lose track of your bets

• A game of luck

Conclusion

It's no surprise to see how the popularity of virtual racing has increased rapidly in recent years. Almost all of the top bookmakers offer some form of virtual racing markets and it appears bookies take this genre just as seriously as they do general betting.

The races are provided by some of the industry leaders, such as Betradar, Kiron and Inspired Entertainment. The quality of the races, including the animation of the races themselves, has improved dramatically, leading to an enjoyable betting experience.

Like we suggest with all forms of betting, ensure that you look after your funds well and only bet what you can afford to lose.

You can find our top choices for the title of best virtual horse racing betting sites at the top of this page. All of our choices are legal to play at and offer a fun and entertaining way to bet.

The top betting sites are… 

Here at Legalbet we have also categorised the top betting sites and their features to make them easier for you to find. They are:

By Sport: Football | Tennis | Boxing | Cricket | Snooker | Golf | UFC | Darts | Greyhound | Rugby | Horse Racing | Basketball | Baseball | Formula 1 | Ice Hockey (NHL) | Volleyball | Cycling | Netball | AFL

By Payment Systems: PayPal | Skrill | Klarna | Boku | Debit Cards | Apple Pay | Paysafecard | Neteller | Google Pay | Prepaid Cards | Revolut

By Features: Cash Out | £5 Minimum Deposit | Minimum Bet Sizing | Live Streaming | Betting Exchanges | Safest | Fast Withdrawal | Daily Free Games | New Betting Sites | Horse Betting Apps | Football Betting Apps | Virtual Sports Betting Sites

By Events: Politics | WWE | NRL Grand Final | MLB World Series | Euro 2024

By Esports: CS:GO | Dota 2 | League of Legends | PUBG | Valorant | FIFA | CS:GO Betting Sites with Paypal

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about betting on virtual horses.