Best betting sites UK 2026: Top new online bookmakers reviewed

As a result, virtual betting markets are open 24/7. Virtual betting platforms aim to replicate the experience of betting on actual sports events. To this end, the virtual players, horses, dogs and teams they create often come with stats and recent form guides, so that bettors have some information to work with. These ingredients enable the creation of virtual betting odds, which are calculated by algorithms and statistical models. This might sound like an enterprise with no betting worth, but virtual betting sites deploy random number generators (RNGs) in order to replicate the essential element of chance. Placing a virtual bet is therefore thought of as being similar to spinning the reels on slot games; in both cases, RNGs determine the outcome. Virtual bettors have slightly more insight than slot players, however, due to the fact they can rely on stats and form, even if this data is entirely imagined. Virtual betting is now a common option at most UK sportsbooks. Our expert team has curated a list of the top ten virtual betting sites — browse the list, read our reviews, and find one that’s right for you. When you log into the Betfair mobile app, the virtual sports category is one of the headline acts. Scroll across the top banner of the app’s most popular sports and click on the Virtuals market. Inside you’ll find three horse racing categories — flat, jumps and sprint — as well as World Cup, Club Football, greyhounds and motor racing. Each event has a 2–3-minute interval, so you’ll never be waiting long for the next one. New customers can claim £50 in free bets when they wager their first £10. Free bet tokens come in the form of bet builders, accumulators and multiples; the latter two can be used on virtual bets. Stand-out feature: Betfair’s cross-platform continuity means your betslip syncs between app and desktop in real time. There’s little between Betfair and PaddyPower in terms of virtual sports markets. Both sites offer the same horse racing, greyhound racing, football and motor sports events; the difference is that PP opts for a Super League format as opposed to Betfair’s Club Football. There’s £30 of free bets available to new customers who wager £5 first, and these free bets can be used on virtual markets. PaddyPower is renowned for its frequent and high-quality promotions, so expect to see plenty of offers coming your way, including on virtual sports. Extra: Look out for “Virtual Happy Hours” — timed promos exclusive to the app. bet365 really attends to the burgeoning virtual sports market by offering an incredible 14 different sports to bet on: football, horse racing, greyhounds, cricket, American football, speedway, motor racing, darts, basketball, tennis, baseball, cycling, golf and trotting. Some of these sports, like trotting(?!) won’t be found anywhere else, and bet365 is adding new sports to its virtuals list all the time. For example, American football and baseball are brand-new additions to the line-up.

12. BOYLE Sports – Best for GAA sports

Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. Race will revert to normal place terms if criteria not met. Antepost/void/combined odds/bets placed after the off/bets in-running don’t qualify. #AD 18+ Use WELCOME15 under My Bonuses within 7 days of registering. Market depth is impressive within these categories too. In the tennis section, punters can bet on the precise score, winning margin and total points of a tie break. Sign up and claim £50 in free bets and use these tokens on bet365’s vast range of virtual sports. Why it ranks high: bet365 continually adds new disciplines and maintains the smoothest streaming engine in the sector. For those who like to head to the virtual races, Betfred offers four different racing categories: standard horse and greyhounds, as well as Dash Horses and Dash Greyhounds. There’s not much between them, except a change of track and some faster times, but it gives punters more options. I’m impressed with Betfred’s virtual horse racing betting options, which includes forecasts, tricasts and accas as well as standard singles and each-way bets. Football, speedway, motor racing, darts, cycling and tennis make up the rest of Betfred’s virtual sports markets. New Betfred customers will be rewarded with £50 in free bets when they sign up and wager £10 of their own, which can be used on virtuals. Unique advantage: Virtual race results include full finishing orders and times, giving a near-real racing experience. Sky Bet offers six virtual sports: football, greyhounds, horse racing flats, horse racing jumps, motor racing and speedway.

How We Created This Free Bets Comparison Page

If your first bet is a Lucky 15 on Any Sport AK Bets will boost the profit gained on that initial bet by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. Applies to new customers who sign up to AK BETS with the promo code AKLUCKY100. Just like regular sports betting sites, virtual betting takes place across a number of sports: football, tennis, horse racing, greyhounds, basketball and motor racing are the most popular on offer. The difference — and it’s a big one — is that with virtual betting, these sporting events don’t actually take place. Instead, algorithms simulate these virtual events, displaying computer-generated images of the ‘action’ taking place. It’s not the widest selection, but I’m impressed by Sky Bet’s virtual football markets — as well as standard pre-match selections, punters can also wager on the correct score, total goals, double chance, and over/under 2.5 goals. For all other virtual sports at Sky Bet, punters can bet on winners, forecasts and tricasts.

Do I need to be good at Maths?

To qualify, place a min £10 bet from your cash balance at odds of EVS or higher—only your first bet counts, and it must not be voided or cashed out. Once settled, receive 3 £5 free bets: one for an accumulator (min 4 legs at 2/5 odds per leg), one for any sportsbook market at EVS or higher, and one for a Sub Cover market, also at EVS or higher. Place a £10 sportsbook bet at minimum odds 1/1 (2.0), within 14 days of sign-up and get £30 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. Opt in, deposit & bet £10 on any sports (odds 2.00+) in 7 days. Get 4x£5 sports free bets for set markets (odds 2.00+), which expire in 7 days. This virtual betting site currently offers one of the best welcome bonuses of all time: £30 in free bets when customers sign up and wager just 5p. You’ll need to deposit a minimum of £5 to qualify, but it’s still an outstanding deal. User interface: While the sport list isn’t the longest, the user interface is top-tier and transitions between matches are smooth. Star Sports outperforms all other virtual football betting sites in this list by offering 11 different categories. These games take bettors around the world with a range of international club competitions, as well as English and Brazilian virtual leagues. Star Sports has had some fun with its virtual football category, offering innovations like Football Penalty Duel and Football Streak Legends; in the latter, famous names from yesteryear turn back the clock on the virtual turf. Virtual bets can also be placed on horse racing, greyhounds, NASCAR, and two different basketball leagues, offering a varied and unique selection for virtual bettors. Why it’s unique: No other UK bookmaker offers this many virtual football leagues under one roof. BoyleSports offers two virtual greyhound markets: Greyhounds and Greyhound Derby. Each race comes with detailed commentary, with the outcomes and odds of every race available to review in the Results tab. BoyleSports customers also have access to four horse racing virtuals, three football virtuals, motor racing and speedway.

Existing Players

Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. Bet £20 (or more) EVS (2.0) or greater Get 2 x £5 Free Bets. 1 x £5 Free Bet paid automatically & following £5 Free Bet after 24hrs. Min Free Bet odds 4/1 (5.0) on accumulators Trebles & upwards. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. This betting site is known for offering loads of promotions at a variety of sports; if virtual betting is your thing, you’ll be sure to receive consistent bonuses and offers in this category. Sign-up reward: Bet £10, receive £25 in free bets – ideal for testing multiple race types. For those who like to know exactly their chances of winning when placing virtual bets, BetGoodwin publishes detailed pay tables of all of its virtual sports. You can see how return-to-player (RTP) percentages are affected by placing different bets, such as winners, forecasts and tricasts. In a similar way to playing slots at an online casino, this information helps bettors develop and maintain wagering budgets. Football, greyhounds, cycling and motor racing are the available virtual sports, alongside three different horse racing categories. Best for: Punters who prefer to understand the maths behind each wager. Each virtual sports betting site has its own approach to virtual football betting. Midnite’s specialism is European virtual football, with punters able to place bets on the site’s equivalent of the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga. The teams are easily recognisable too — for example, Man United are abbreviated to MNU, as opposed to Manchester Red at other sites. It’s the same story across Spain and Italy, with backgrounds modified to reflect each league. There’s a great range of betting markets on these virtuals too, including half time correct score, BTTS, double chance and more. Horse racing and greyhounds make up the other virtual sports at Midnite. Why we like it: High production values and precise European branding create authenticity. I was blown away by the quality of Betano’s virtual commentary. Whereas other sites deploy stock phrases that are out of sync with the action, Betano’s commentary genuinely feels like a real game. This is particularly true of its virtual basketball games, which are delivered in two leagues: the US League and the US League 2.