Bet on virtual football markets at any time and enjoy returns within minutes. The best virtual football betting sportsbooks offer an immersive selection of odds that replicate the real sport with remarkable accuracy. Since the quality varies significantly between the best and the rest, it’s important to take advantage of the finest options available — and that's where our guide comes in handy!

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  • Incredible virtual football market variety
  • Remarkably entertaining streams
  • Dozens of leagues represented

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18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

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  • Virtual football markets easy to find and understand
  • Includes educational materials for newcomers
  • Games come complete with unique commentary

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  • Excellent choice for mobile virtual football streams
  • Includes markets rarely seen elsewhere
  • Offers in-play virtual betting

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  • Statistics enhance viewing experience
  • Several virtual football games available at once
  • Streams are a visual feast

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  • Consistently over 100 markets on every stream
  • Realistic presentation
  • Competitive overround

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The variety of virtual football betting odds, along with the quality and detail of the livestreams, all hinge on your choice of bookmaker. That’s why we’ve handpicked five top-tier options that we believe offer the crème de la crème of virtual football experiences.

1. bet365 — Above & Beyond Virtual Football Variety

desktop Screenshot of bet365 Virtual Markets
(Source: bet365)

We consider bet365 to be the most comprehensive and immersive virtual football betting experience available. The market variety is superb, with dozens available for every game, including handicap and scorecast odds to maximise your options. A game between Iran and Germany, for instance, offered 127 unique markets.

They even go beyond the usual limitations of isolated games by providing entire football seasons that are completed every hour. As a player, you can bet on 48 different leagues, providing engrossing entertainment alongside tons of betting opportunities.

And all of this is presented with the technical quality for which bet365 is known. Buttery smooth streams, with immersive action on both desktop and mobile, push the limitations of what’s possible from simulated sports, with spectacular results.

Pros:
  • 48 different leagues to bet on
  • Over 100 markets per game available
  • Reliable streams on desktop and mobile
  • Excellent for handicap betting
  • In-game action is thrilling
Cons:
  • Your account balance must be positive to watch games
  • May have to wait to watch the league you’re interested in

2. Betfred — Top Choice for Newcomers

desktop Screenshot of Betfred Virtual Football Markets
(Source: Betfred)

If you’re new to simulated sports and are looking for the best virtual football betting sites, Betfred might be a perfect fit. Markets are simple to understand, graphics are crisp, and commentary is superb in enhancing the action. They even have a “Virtual Explained” page, which describes how everything works. In short, it’s a terrific place to learn how to win in virtual football betting.

And there’s ample opportunity to do just that with a well-stocked library of virtual football betting markets for you to enjoy. While the selection is not quite as extensive as bet365's, we counted 71 markets for a game between Uruguay and Nigeria, therefore covering more than enough for the vast majority of punters.

Most importantly, they are the markets with the broadest target audience, including a fantastic collection of over/under odds, double chance, and even European handicap options. In terms of sheer mainstream appeal and accessibility, Betfred is the gold standard.

Pros:
  • Extremely user-friendly
  • Top pick for newcomers to virtuals
  • Includes excellent educational material
  • Commentary is informative and entertaining
  • World-class graphical standards
Cons:
  • Some markets are missing
  • No variety of venues

3. Ladbrokes — Amazing Streams on Every Screen

desktop Screenshot of Ladbrokes Virtual Football Markets
(Source: Ladbrokes))

With big, bold graphics emphasised by a huge picture, virtual football at Ladbrokes is as visually impressive as any. And it loses none of its impact on either of their tremendous mobile options. Even compared to the finest virtual football betting apps, none surpasses it in terms of streaming and graphical quality.

The variety of games available also enhances the experience. At a glance, we could choose between International, Euro Cup, UK Football, Football, and Euro League games, all starting within three minutes.

They’re no slouch with regards to market variety either, as a Euro League game between Rome and Barcelona offered 79 alternatives to the standard match result odds. They are also one of the few bookmakers that allow live betting — a genuine rarity for virtual football.

Another terrific touch are the statistics presented between the games, complete with a fictional head-to-head history and goal averages. It all helps you to get absorbed in the action — just like a real football game — and make the most of your bets in terms of winnings and entertainment.

Pros:
  • Very impressive presentation
  • Outstanding mobile options
  • Game stats provide depth
  • Choose from multiple distinct games at once
  • Includes penalties
Cons:
  • No half-time markets
  • Some streams are sharper than others

4. Coral — A Visual Feast With Plenty of Betting Variety

desktop Screenshot of Coral Virtual Football Markets
(Source: Coral)

Considering that Coral and Ladbrokes are owned by the same company, it should come as little surprise that their virtual soccer offerings have plenty in common. In fact, in terms of presentation, they are almost identical. Considering the quality involved, this is not a bad thing.

Expect a powerful presentation of simulated football with great statistics on all devices. They even supply the exact same variety of markets — the difference is that they show unique games. Here, we were able to choose between Elite Stadium, Domestic Football, UK Football, International Football, and Euro League.

This means that if you sign up to Coral, you can expect their own take on what we consider to be some of the most visually impressive and versatile virtual football events online. And, if you sign up to multiple bookmakers, Ladbrokes and Coral can provide a broader field of excellent betting options.

Pros:
  • Multiple immersive streams available
  • More games available than Ladbrokes
  • Dozens of “Correct Score” markets
  • Competitive overround
  • Consistent performance on all tested devices
Cons:
  • Little unique compared to Ladbrokes
  • Tournaments could be expanded à la bet365

5. BetVictor — Most Markets of Any of Our Recommendations

desktop Screenshot of BetVictor Virtual Football Markets
(Source: BetVictor)

Incredible realism and sharpness sets BetVictor apart from the rest of the virtual football betting pack, making you feel like you’re watching a legitimate sporting event condensed into mere minutes. This is further enhanced with excellent statistical details between games.

However, the best thing about BetVictor’s offering from a strategic perspective is the sheer amount of choice available. They offered 130 markets for a game between Burnley Old Boys and Leicester United, making them the top pick for odds diversity.

Plus, the bookmaker’s margin remained competitive throughout. We tested three separate games, and the result was an overround of 105.3%, 106.1%, and 108.1%. Considering that quality odds are generally under 110%, this means you’re getting exceptional value on every one of your wagers.

Pros:
  • More markets than any other recommendation
  • Includes 3-way handicap odds
  • Natural presentation will delight many
  • Consistently great value odds
  • Two matches always available for uninterrupted access
Cons:
  • Fictional teams can undermine realism
  • Graphical style simply won’t suit all

Virtual football is a simulation of a football match created by the bookmaker, allowing you to watch and bet on short games.

The rules and markets should be familiar to anyone who has bet on any form of football before. The key difference is that there are no real teams or players, goals are capped at four, and each game usually lasts about three minutes.

There’s sometimes a small gap between games to allow you to place your bets. Beyond that, virtual football betting markets are usually available around the clock, providing sports fans with a casino-like consistency to their betting options.

From the punter’s perspective, virtual football betting works largely the same as its real-life equivalent. You sign up, deposit funds, choose a market, and if that market wins, you’ll net returns based on your odds — just like any sporting event.

From the bookmaker’s perspective, these markets operate much like casino games, with results being produced by random number generators (RNGs). The profit margin is comparable to other sporting events, with an overround embedded into the odds to secure a favourable financial outcome for the bookie.

Is Virtual Football Betting Fair?

Yes, betting on virtual football is fair, guaranteed via the use of a random number generator. This ensures legitimately random results, which cannot be manipulated by the bookmaker. It’s also exactly how trusted online casinos ensure fairness for all their games.

Our only caveat is that you must use a licensed and legitimate online bookmaker. To ensure this, we only recommend the finest virtual football betting sites, all regulated by an international gaming authority.

Virtual football is a replica of the real sport and, as such, betting markets work in the same way. From match result to first goalscorer, the same rules and winning criteria apply. The main difference to your market selection is simply that virtual soccer generally has fewer options.

With that in mind, here are the most common and popular virtual football betting markets, and how they work.

Match Result

Bet on the final result of the game. Your options are: Team A to win, Team B to win, or a draw. This is a standard market that you can expect from all virtual football betting sites. With that in mind, we’re picking the always exceptional BetVictor as the best bookmaker for this market because of their consistently excellent odds.

Number of Goals in the Game

Here, you’re predicting the number of goals scored by the end of regular play. This market can be offered for each team individually or both cumulatively. We found industry juggernaut bet365 to be a fantastic choice for pretty much all goals markets, including number of goals scored. Remember though, one of the least well-kept virtual football betting secrets is that the maximum number of goals is four, which does limit the scope of this market.

Over/Under Goals

If you want to wager on whether the number of goals scored by both teams will be under or over a set amount, this is the market for you. With goals kept to a maximum of four per game, your available options are limited to over/under 0.5 to 2.5. Making the most of this field is BetVictor, offering the full range of odds at all times.

Correct Score

One of the toughest markets in virtual football, this requires you to predict the exact score at the end of regular play. In other words, if a game ended 2-1, you would have to select that number of goals precisely in that order for your bet to be a winner. The champion of this market is bet365, offering an exceptionally generous selection of correct score odds to suit all betting strategies.

Both Teams to Score

It’s whether both teams score a goal by the end of the game, not the winner, that determines the success of your bet in this market. So, if both sides of the scoreboard read anything other than “0” by the time the final whistle blows, and you’ve backed both teams to score, you can expect returns whether it’s one goal or four. It's fantastic for multiples betting and especially great from Coral sportsbook, who always seem to offer exceptional odds on this market.

First Goalscorer

Many of the best virtual football streams mimic real athletes — both for entertainment and to provide additional betting options. This allows for markets focused on players, rather than teams. With first goalscorer, you predict who will score first, and all other results are irrelevant. You can even bet on whether there will be no goalscorer at all. Your best virtual sports betting site for this must be a bookie with fantastic attention to detail, especially when it comes to visuals. We don’t think there’s a better fit for the job than the iconic Ladbrokes, with their broad selection of markets and graphically superior streams.

The process of betting on virtual football is simple and should be familiar to anyone who has ever placed an online bet before. To ensure you’re fully prepared and can apply a virtual football betting strategy with confidence, here’s a step-by-step guide to everything you need to know.

Virtual Football Betting Tips & Strategies

The strategies usually employed for real-life sports won’t necessarily work with a simulated betting event. While it might resemble the real thing, virtual soccer is unique, and you’ll need distinct virtual football betting tips to make the most out of your markets.

We would advise you to:

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Start by betting small

If you’re new to virtual football betting, then it’s a good idea to start by betting small and seeing what markets and strategies work for you before committing larger bets.

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Remember that the results are random

Everything you see is entertainment rather than anything strategically useful. The stats, the action — it’s all just decoration. All conclusions are determined by a random number generator which is only affected by the odds. In terms of the mechanics of how the results are determined, this is closer to a roulette wheel than a sport. Keep that in mind by focusing on the odds and the level of risk you want, rather than what’s on screen.

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Watch the games anyway

Betting on virtual football distinguishes itself because of its presentation and entertainment value. So, while it’s important to remember that what happens on screen has little bearing on your winnings, take the time to enjoy the action.

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Bet a little in advance

Most virtual football bets are pre-game, so you’ll want to ensure you’ve plenty of time to decide which markets are right for you. Pick a contest that’s coming up in a little while rather than one that's just about to start to avoid making rushed decisions.

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Pace yourself

Having games every three minutes provides a constant stream of betting options. However, trying to keep pace with them may be unwise. Take a break between games and sit a few out, always stick to your budget, and bet responsibly. Make sure you have the breathing room between bets being settled to decide on your next actions thoughtfully for the best chance of positive results.

Key to any worthwhile virtual football betting strategy is knowing the difference between what you can expect here compared to traditional, non-simulated football markets.

The most important distinction is that outcomes in virtual soccer are determined randomly, rather than by the skills of actual teams and players, which typically dictate the results of real football matches. However, there are several other critical factors to consider:

SubjectVirtual FootballFootball
Availability24/7Markets are regularly available, but only when a game (covered by the bookmaker) is being played
Match Length3 minutes90 minutes of regular play, plus injury time. In some games, there’s potential for 30 minutes of extra time and penalties
Betting MarketsOver 100 available from top bookmakersMany hundreds of markets available across dozens of top-quality sportsbooks
In-Play BettingAvailable on selected bookmakers, like Coral and LadbrokesAvailable on most events
Betting PromotionsVery rarely availableConsistently offered by most bookmakers

Unfortunately, promotions on virtual sports remain rare, with most bonus offers being tied to traditional sports betting. However, there are some delightful exceptions.

One such promotion is Betdaq’s “Bet £10, Get £10 on Virtuals” offer. With this, new customers can enjoy a £10 free bet on any virtuals markets by entering promo code V1010 and placing a £10 bet on virtuals or exchange markets at minimum odds of 2.00 within 72 hours of signing up.

Once activated, you’ll have seven days to use your free bet, which is plenty of time to explore Betdaq’s virtual football betting markets.

As with most promotions, certain restrictions apply. For example, e-wallet deposits are excluded, and eligibility is limited to UK and Irish residents aged 18 or older. That said, Betdaq’s terms are very generous and straightforward, with no wagering requirements to contend with.

This is a fantastic bonus which exemplifies the kind of progressive approach that earned glowing praise in our Betdaq review.

Virtual Sports – Bet £10 Get £10 On Virtuals
18+ Only. Offer applies to cutomers who have not placed their first bet on Exchange or Sportsbook virtuals before 01/12/2015. Minimum odds of 2.0 or greater applies. Free bet stake not returned on winnings and must be placed at odds of 1.5 or greater. Free bet can only be used on Exchange or Sportsbook virtuals. Free bet valid for 7 days. Available to UK and Irish customers only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
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18+ Only. Offer applies to cutomers who have not placed their first bet on Exchange or Sportsbook virtuals before 01/12/2015. Minimum odds of 2.0 or greater applies. Free bet stake not returned on winnings and must be placed at odds of 1.5 or greater. Free bet can only be used on Exchange or Sportsbook virtuals. Free bet valid for 7 days. Available to UK and Irish customers only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad

We hope to see more bookmakers follow in their footsteps, particularly our top recommendations. By enhancing their already outstanding virtual football betting experience with complementary bonus offers, they could create something truly special.

While the virtual soccer action is available to watch live, in-play betting is rare. Remember that these markets are much more like a casino game. Therefore, this would be akin to ensuring your bets are placed before the ball begins to land on the roulette wheel. In fact, one of the most iconic sounds from virtual football games is the commentor bellowing “no more bets” as soon as the game begins.

However, there are exceptions. Ladbrokes and Coral are two of the very few offering live virtual football betting, proving that not only is it possible, but that it can work seamlessly.

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TPP Expert Opinion

I think that betting live, where possible, is the ultimate way to enjoy virtual football. The purpose of these streams is entertainment, otherwise you’re just betting on odds with results determined by a random number generator. Being able to bet live helps you feel like you're part of the action, creating that sense of immersion and, in my opinion, leads to a much more enjoyable betting experience.

Virtual football betting combines the thrill of sports with the reliability of casino games, creating a unique experience where you can bet on your favourite football markets at any time and receive results within minutes.

We think newcomers will be amazed by the quality of the streams and the entertainment they provide. While not a substitute for the real sport, virtual football is a valuable addition to any betting site — one that opens a whole new way to bet.

Virtual football betting is where you place wagers on the results of a simulated football match. The rules and markets are largely the same as the real game, so they should be familiar to all football fans.

No. So long as you use an operator that holds a licence by a respected international gaming authority, such as the UK Gambling Commission, then all results are determined by a random number generator.

Virtual football outcomes are generated at random. This means that, while you might make a prediction that turns out to be correct by chance, you cannot rely on analysis to predict results accurately as you might with a non-simulated sported event.

Typically, they are three minutes long.

We’ve recommended five operators that we think represent the best in virtual football. bet365 stands out for its incredible variety of events and markets, while Betfred is an excellence choice for newcomers. Ladbrokes offers a superior live experience, and Coral combines graphical and technical prowess with a wide array of odds. Finally, BetVictor stands out for providing the most markets per game. Each of these bookmakers has unique strengths, so it all comes down to choosing the one that suits you and your style of play best.

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WRITTEN BY Ben Gibson View all posts by Ben Gibson

Ben has been writing professionally for over a decade. His articles are a great outlet for his inexhaustible supply of sporting facts and enthusiasm. He resides in Yorkshire, where his work is powered by the ever-present sound of a kettle.

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