The advent of virtual sports betting is proof of the highly dynamic nature of the modern gambling scene. This is an industry that simply never stands still. Gambling appetites in the 21st century are essentially insatiable. Bookmakers and gambling providers are continually devising new ways of catering to their customers, and virtual sports betting is one of the latest offerings.
What Are Virtual Sports
Just as the name suggests, virtual sports are like actual sports but not in an absolute sense. Instead of human players, computer software generates simulations of sporting events. The software used for virtual sports is called a Random Number Generator (RNG). Combined with real-world player statistics, RNGs allow two teams or players to compete and determine the outcome at the end of the match. The birth of virtual sports was pencil-drawn fantasy sports on paper during the pre-IT era. The arrival of computers, such as modern ones with motion capture technology, has made more complex sports simulations and animations possible. Virtual sports provide entertainment where virtual matches can be watched like any televised sports event. Nowadays, they’re even accompanied by live commentary and play-by-play descriptions. As we will see later on in the article, virtual sports have a close relationship with betting. Where virtual sports are mentioned, the word betting follows. Let’s now have a look at virtual sports betting.
As we’ve seen before, virtual sports are practically video games where a computer simulates a sporting event or contest. Programmers do their best to create algorithms that effectively create as realistic simulations as possible. From enjoying virtual sports as entertainment, bookmakers have gone further to create gambling opportunities. Today, most major sports bookies allow punters to place wagers on virtual sports events. These events start at specific times, with betting odds provided beforehand. After the event finishes, bets are settled accordingly, with punters who correctly predict outcomes collecting their winnings – just as traditional sports betting. It is easy to confuse virtual sports betting with eSports betting, but that shouldn’t be the case. eSports betting is where punters predict outcomes from people playing video games in a competitive sense. For virtual sports, on the other hand, the human element is removed. Computers are in charge, and it is software that ultimately decides which way a contest goes.
Types Of Virtual Sports
These are the most common types of virtual sports in today’s sports industry:
1. Virtual Soccer League
Virtual soccer is one of the most popular forms of virtual sports. Usually, a league of virtual teams, usually 20, compete in a typical, modern soccer league fashion. The virtual league is usually modeled on actual real-world soccer leagues, for example, the Premier League. This means the authentic team and player performance expectations reflect, but without discounting, the element of luck that prevails in real soccer. A huge subset of the traditional soccer betting markets is also available.
2. Virtual Animal Races
Players place wagers on virtual animal races. These include virtual horse, dog, and camel races. A race usually features 6-8 animals. Most standard betting markets available for real animal races are also virtual animals. These include winner, last place, tricast, predicting whether an animal finishes in the first three spots, etc.
3. Virtual Motor Sports
Computer-generated motor races include slot car races, motorcycle speedways, drag races, F1, and others.
