Virtual sports let you bet around the clock on computer-generated football matches, horse races and more, with results decided in minutes rather than waiting for real fixtures. This guide ranks the best virtual sports betting sites in the UK, explains how the games work — from the random number generator that decides them to the Return to Player behind the odds — and shows you what to check before you bet, including whether your free bet even applies.
- Bet £10 get £30
- Excellent Football Betting Options
- Extensive Bet-Builder
- Multi-Award Winning Bookmaker
New customers can sign up using bonus code SQUAWKA365, bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration Required. This code is for marketing and tracking purposes only. #Ad.
- Daily Promotions & Free Bets
- Trusted Brand
- Vast selection of sports markets
#AD 18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
- Daily Promotions & Free Bets
- Excellent Football Betting Options
- Exceptional Mobile App
18+ New UK + ROI customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £/€5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stakes not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
- Bet £10 get £40
- Enhanced Offers
- Fantastic Promotions
- Super Fast Withdrawals
#AD 18+ New customers online only. Register and bet a min £/€5 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing within 7 days of registration to qualify. Receive £/€10 Tote Credit, £/€10 Free Sports Bet within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to bet slip. Voided/non-runner bets will not qualify; subsequent bet will be qualifying bet. 7-day expiry. 18+. One per customer. Selected customers only. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply.
- Bet £10 get £30
- Super Fast Withdrawals
- Trusted Brand
18+. Play Safe. Online only. Ends 31.12.26. New UK customers only, registering with promo code R30. Make your first deposit of £10+, then place a £10 single bet from main balance at odds of 1/2+ on any sports market (excluding Virtuals). Get £30 in Free Bets (3x£10) after settlement. Free Bets valid on any sports market excl. Virtuals, expire in 7 days, non-withdrawable and must be used in full (£10 each). Deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay and WH PLUS Card excluded. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply. #ad
- Enhanced Offers
- Exceptional Mobile App
- Uniquely Designed Sportsbook
AD 18+ New UK customers only, Place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets on consecutive days and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet. The promotion will run from 11th March 2025 until discontinued by Spreadex Ltd. using its reasonable discretion, (“Promotion Period”). Offer can only be used once per customer. Full T&Cs apply.
Virtual sports are fixed-odds games in which the outcome is generated by software rather than played out by real athletes. Events run continuously, 24 hours a day, so there is always a market open, and each result is independent of the last — there is no form to study and no injuries or postponements to worry about. Every site featured here is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, and the games are supplied by specialist providers, such as Inspired Gaming, Kiron and Golden Race, whose random number generators are independently tested.
Best virtual sports betting sites in the UK
Every bookmaker below is UKGC-licensed and runs a full virtual sports suite, typically covering virtual football and virtual racing with events every few minutes. We have focused on the operators with the widest range of virtual games, the clearest odds and Return to Player, and the smoothest apps for fast, repeat markets.
bet365
bet365 offers one of the deepest virtual sports sections in the UK, spanning virtual football, horse racing and greyhounds that run continuously through the day. Football markets include match result, correct score and over/under goals, while the racing games carry win, each-way and forecast betting. Results settle within minutes, and the app makes it easy to place quick, repeat bets between real fixtures. Odds and the Return to Player are clearly displayed. It is a strong all-round choice for virtual sports.
Sky Bet
Sky Bet pairs a top-rated app with a tidy virtual sports offering built around virtual football and racing. Markets are simple to navigate, with match result and correct score on the football and win and place on the races, and events cycle quickly so there is rarely a wait. The app is well suited to fast in-and-out virtual betting on the move. Clear terms and quick settlement round it out. It is a good pick if you value a clean, straightforward interface.
William Hill
William Hill is a long-standing name in virtual racing, having offered computer-generated races in its shops and online for years. Its virtual suite covers football and racing with a full set of markets, from correct score to forecast and tricast on the races. As an established, high-street-and-online brand, it combines familiarity with reliable settlement and clear Return to Player information. In-play-style quick markets and a stable app support regular play. It is a dependable option for virtual racing in particular.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes offers a broad virtual sports line-up, including virtual football, horse racing and greyhounds with events running throughout the day. Football markets stretch to match result, both teams to score and over/under, while the racing games carry win, each-way and forecast betting. Quick settlement and a well-built app make it easy to bet virtuals alongside real sport. Odds and Return to Player are shown up front. It is a solid big-brand choice for variety.
Betfred
Betfred, the UK’s largest independent bookmaker, runs a full virtual sports suite covering football and racing that is available around the clock. The markets are the familiar match result, correct score and win or forecast lines, with fast settlement and a straightforward app. It is a good option if you also want a traditional sportsbook and shops behind your virtual play. Odds and Return to Player are clearly presented. A reliable all-round choice.
BoyleSports
BoyleSports rounds out our list with a virtual sports section strong on racing, reflecting its heritage as a racing-led bookmaker. Virtual horse and greyhound races run frequently, with win, each-way and forecast markets, alongside virtual football. Settlement is quick and the app handles repeat markets well. Odds and Return to Player are shown clearly for each game. It is a natural fit for punters who favour virtual racing.
What are virtual sports and how do they work?
Virtual sports are fixed-odds betting games in which a random number generator (RNG) decides the outcome, which is then shown as a short animated event. There are no real players or venues; a virtual football match or horse race is a piece of software, produced by specialist providers, such as Inspired Gaming, Kiron and Golden Race. Because the RNG runs each event independently, past results tell you nothing about the next one — there is no form, no going and no team news to weigh up. The odds are set with a built-in margin, expressed as a Return to Player (RTP), and the games are certified by independent testing houses before they go live.
Types of virtual sports
- Virtual football — simulated matches and leagues, with match result, correct score and goals markets.
- Virtual horse racing — computer-generated flat and jumps races with win, each-way and forecast betting.
- Virtual greyhounds — fast, frequent races, popular for win and forecast bets.
- Virtual tennis — simulated matches priced on the winner and set betting.
- Virtual cycling and speedway — track events with win and placing markets.
- Virtual motor racing — simulated races priced on the winner and podium.
Virtual sports betting markets
The markets mirror their real-world equivalents. Virtual football offers match result (1X2), correct score, over/under goals and both teams to score, plus outright virtual leagues. Virtual racing carries win and each-way betting, along with forecast and tricast for picking the finishing order. Because events settle in minutes, many punters build short sequences of single bets rather than long-term positions, and cash out is available on some markets where the game format allows it.
How virtual odds and RTP work
Virtual sports are priced at fixed odds, but the key figure is the Return to Player — the percentage of stakes the game is designed to pay back over time, typically around 85% to 95% and published by the operator. A higher RTP means a smaller built-in margin, much like a tighter overround on a real-sports market. Because outcomes are random, no staking system or “due” result can change your expected return. If you want to check exactly what a virtual bet will pay before you stake, use our free bet calculator to work out the returns in fractional or decimal odds.
Why bet on virtual sports: pros and cons
The appeal is availability and speed: virtual sports run 24/7, settle in minutes and never suffer postponements, injuries or weather, so there is always a market when real sport is quiet. They are also simple to understand, using the same bet types as the real thing. The trade-offs are just as important, though: because results are random, there is no edge to be gained from form or research, the games carry a built-in house margin, and the fast, repetitive nature can make it easy to bet more than you intend. Treat virtual sports as entertainment rather than a way to make money.
How we rank virtual sports betting sites
- Range of games — how many virtual sports are offered, such as football, horse racing and greyhounds.
- Market depth — beyond the winner, markets such as correct score, forecast and tricast.
- Odds and RTP transparency — clearly displayed prices and Return to Player.
- Event frequency — how often races and matches run.
- App and settlement — a fast, stable app with instant settlement.
- Licensing and player protection — a UKGC licence and easy-to-set limits.
Are virtual sports fair or rigged?
Virtual sports are fair in the sense that outcomes are produced by a random number generator that is independently tested and certified, and they cannot be predicted or influenced by the operator or the player. UKGC-licensed sites must use tested RNG software and display the Return to Player, so the margin is transparent even though the house has one, exactly as it does on real-sports odds. What “fair” does not mean is that you can beat them long-term: because every event is random and carries a built-in margin, there is no strategy that turns virtual sports into a profitable exercise.
Can you use free bets on virtual sports?
Not always — this is the single most important thing to check. Many welcome free bets are for real sports only and specifically exclude virtual sports, which are often classed with gaming products in the terms. Some bookmakers do allow free bets on virtuals, and a few run dedicated virtual-sports promotions, so read the offer terms before you assume your token will work. You can compare current welcome offers on our best free bet offers page and check each one’s eligible markets.
Virtual sports betting FAQs
What are virtual sports?
Virtual sports are fixed-odds betting games — such as virtual football and virtual racing — whose results are generated by software rather than played by real athletes. Events run around the clock and settle within minutes.
Are virtual sports rigged, or are they fair?
They are fair in that outcomes come from an independently tested random number generator that neither the operator nor the player can influence. However, like all betting games they carry a built-in house margin, so they cannot be beaten over the long term.
Can you use a free bet on virtual sports?
Sometimes, but not always. Many welcome free bets exclude virtual sports or treat them as a gaming product, so always check the offer terms before assuming your free bet will apply.
How are virtual sports results decided?
A random number generator produces each result, which is then displayed as a short animated match or race. Every event is independent, so past results have no bearing on what happens next.
What is RTP in virtual sports betting?
RTP, or Return to Player, is the percentage of total stakes a game is designed to return to players over time — typically around 85% to 95%. A higher RTP means a smaller built-in margin for the bookmaker.
Which virtual sport is best to bet on?
Virtual football and virtual horse racing are the most popular, thanks to familiar markets, such as match result and forecast. Since outcomes are random, “best” comes down to which format you enjoy and which game offers the higher Return to Player.
Are virtual sports betting winnings taxed in the UK?
No. Gambling winnings are not taxable for the bettor in the UK, so you keep 100% of any virtual sports returns. Betting duty is paid by the operators, not by customers.
Responsible gambling
Virtual sports are fast and continuous, which makes it especially easy to lose track of time and spend, so treat them as entertainment and never as a way to make money. Set deposit and time limits, take regular breaks, never chase losses, and only stake what you can afford to lose. Every site on this page is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and offers player-protection tools, such as deposit limits, reality checks and self-exclusion. You must be 18 or over to bet. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free, confidential support is available at GambleAware.org. #AD