Virtual Horse Racing is the staging of computerised racing of virtual horses, allowing punters to place bets on events even after the actual, real-life horse racing has finished for the day.
Virtual Horse Racing events run every few minutes all day, every day meaning we can enjoy these events any time we like. These synthetic events are designed to be as close as possible to real-life horse racing and available whenever we want it, especially when real horse racing is unavailable. Because of this, online betting on Virtual Horse Racing makes up around 25% of all horse racing bets placed with UK bookmakers.
What is Virtual Betting on Horse Racing?
Virtual Horse Racing works in the same way as real horse racing. You make a selection and bet on it in all the normal ways: outright win, each way, forecasts and tricasts. The only difference is that the race is a computer-generated with results powered by random number generators (RNGs). Races take place on made-up courses, such as Neighmarket, with invented horses.
All of these horses are completely fictitious, so even if you don’t want to bet big in order to win big sums, you can still play along for fun. If you do want to bet to win, then you have the option to study some “form” and all of the information you will be looking for is displayed in race card form just like in real life.
Is Wagering On Virtual Horse Racing Fair?
Yes, it is fair, especially so long as you make sure that you only bet at the bookmakers we recommend. Like slots, blackjack and video poker games, etc, these computerised games use RNGs in order to generate results. The clue is in the word random. That said, horses’ ‘form’ is still included in the computer, meaning that favourites, while not guaranteed, will still win more often than others.
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#1
 bet365
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ - Offer for new customers at bet365. 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 Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#2
 Betfred
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#3
 Ladbrokes
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first 5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x 5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#4
 Coral
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New UK+ ROI Customers only. Deposit & Bet min £5 as first bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x £20 Free Bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#5
 William Hill
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#6
Paddy Power
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New Customer Offer. Place your FIRST bet on any Sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £10. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#7
BetVictor
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days, no cashout. Get 3x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. Plus 100 Free Spins. 100 Free Spins have no wagering. Bonuses and Spins expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#8
 Unibet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#9
 BoyleSports
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
*New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7 day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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#10
 Betfair
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
New customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad |
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Virtual Horse Racing Bookies Ranked And Reviewed
Below we have compiled a list of some of the best virtual horse racing bookies in the UK based on our own user experience.
Virtual Horse Racing at Bet365
Bet365 has definitely put on the best display for their virtual horse racing. Races are staged every single minute and the graphics and commentary far outstrip all of the others. Product-wise, it’s hard not to be impressed with bet365’s virtual horse racing offering. Just be sure to know your horse’s number rather than name because the commentary, as it does everywhere else to be fair, focuses on numbers, not names. On other sites, names of the leading horses are displayed on the footage but at bet365, both audio and visual commentary focus solely on numbers.
Virtual Horse Racing at Betfred
Betfred has jumped both feet first into virtual sports, and the virtual world is truly something to take in. Because of this, you can be sure that you will not be disappointed with their virtual horse racing offering, which even includes Dash Horses.
Virtual Horse Racing at Ladbrokes
At Ladbrokes, races go off every three minutes with commentary, cheering crowds, galloping hooves and stadium announcements all included in the sound effects to keep things feeling as real as physically possible.
Virtual Horse Racing at Coral
Coral really go to town with their virtual offering and their virtual horse racing is no different. With races staged every three minutes, including commentary on horse numbers rather than names, there is always something to bet on.
Virtual Horse Racing at William Hill
At William Hill, a new race gets underway every three minutes and bettors are able to bet on flat races, jump races and sprints. Again, the commentary sticks to numbers, but this is the understandable standard for virtual horse racing races which are over very swiftly. All in all, a very good virtual horse racing product.
Virtual Horse Racing at Paddy Power
Paddy Power set their races off every two minutes and, much like the others, the races are fast and furious – but most of all, fun. The graphics are great; however, the commentary is very mundane – but no more so than elsewhere, and this is only a minor factor anyway.
Virtual Horse Racing at BetVictor
BetVictor provides virtual horse racing all day every day with races set two minutes apart.The footage is great and comes as close as possible to replicating the real thing with tangy announcements, crowd chats and race commentary included.
Virtual Horse Racing at NetBet
Powered by Inspired Gaming, NetBet’s virtual horse racing is a powerful, if reduced, offering. Players can bet on wins, each way, forecasts and tricasts, but only on one form of virtual horse racing.
Virtual Horse Racing at BoyleSports
BoyleSports have gone all-in when it comes to virtual horse racing. Lucky punters of the Irish bookmakers can enjoy National Hunt races, flat races as well as sprints and can bet in the usual way in each of them.
Virtual Horse Racing at Betfair
At Betfair, flat races, jumps races and sprints are under starters orders, or in the virtual world, “no more bets”, every two minutes. The actions are good and do well as a replica of the real thing, but you really wouldn’t expect much less of Betfair.
Types of Virtual Horse Races
The whole point of virtual horse racing is to replicate the real thing. Therefore, the races being replicated are based on the numerous types of real races that exist in reality such as the following.
Flat Racing
As in real life, flat races are generally shorter and raced without hurdles.
Jump Racing
Just like the real thing, these races included fences that must be jumped.
Sprint Racing
Short, quick and fast, just as it is in real life.
Trotting
Sometimes known as harness racing, the horses carry traps along behind them while racing.
Virtual Horse Racing Tips And Strategies
Remember, as with real horse racing, the shorter the betting odds on a horse, the better their chances of winning the upcoming race. There is little reason to study the form of a horse and backing it according to its previous runs. But just because the racecards and form are all synthetic, that doesn’t mean that all of the horses have an equal chance of success.
Instead, look to control your bankroll by betting small at first, not risking more than you can afford to lose. Even though the form is bogus, favourites have been deemed the favourites for a reason, so compare how short their price is against the rest of the runners, especially the longest odds in the field. Also, we believe it’s advantageous to reverse forecast in these events or, if you so wish, try the tricast bet type selections for higher payout.
Virtual Horse Racing Advantages
One of the first advantageous aspects of virtual horse racing that you will notice is that you can bet pretty much on demand. Races go off all day, every day – meaning bettors will never have to wait a long time for a race to start again. Also, because each race is entirely independent of the previous one, there is no need to study horse form. These races cannot be postponed or cancelled due to bad weather either!
Virtual Horse Racing FAQs
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No, not really. The idea is that the action keeps rolling all day long.
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Again, not really. The form isn’t real, it’s just there to help you if you need it. It’s far better to bet according to the odds.
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All results in virtual horse racing are determined by the same RNGs that keep online casinos fair.
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Yes, RNGs are employed in order to generate a fair result.
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No, all of the action is entirely fictional.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons to give virtual horse racing a try, and as just as many good reasons to help explain why it has become popular, so quickly. Virtual horse racing aims to provide all of the thrills of the real thing. While it can’t quite replace real thoroughbred horse racing, it comes a pretty close second and, because it runs 24/7, the action never stops.
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