What is virtual sports?
Virtual sports are computer-generated simulations of real sports events, created to emulate real-life sports competitions like football, horse racing, tennis, and basketball. These digital events run continuously, providing 24/7 opportunities for betting, regardless of live sports schedules. Virtual sports utilize advanced graphics and artificial intelligence to replicate the look and feel of real sports, offering fast-paced action with immediate results and outcomes.
How does virtual sports work?
Virtual sports operate using random number generators (RNGs) to ensure fair play and unpredictability in outcomes. The games simulate real-world conditions, including weather and player stats, to enhance realism. For each event, users place bets similar to traditional sports betting, and outcomes are determined by the RNG-based engine, ensuring every event remains unpredictable and fair.
What are virtual sports used for?
Virtual sports are used primarily by iGaming brands to engage audiences during times when live sports are unavailable or outside regular sports seasons. They offer bettors a consistent and controlled environment, ensuring opportunities for wagering around the clock. Additionally, virtual sports help operators diversify their offerings, maintaining player engagement through accessible, fast, and frequent events.
Examples of virtual sports usage.
- Football leagues: Virtual football leagues allow players to bet on multiple matches and tournaments that mimic real football leagues.
- Horse racing: Players can bet on virtual horse races, which follow the structure of traditional races and offer betting odds based on simulated horse performance.
- Basketball tournaments: Like in real basketball, virtual basketball games offer options to bet on player stats, team wins, and scores.
- Tennis: Virtual tennis games simulate major tournaments, allowing players to bet on various outcomes, from match winners to point spreads.
Advantages of virtual sports.
- Consistent availability: Virtual sports operate continuously, eliminating the downtime associated with live sports seasons and schedules.
- Quick turnaround: With shorter game durations and frequent events, players can place more bets and experience immediate results.
- Broad market appeal: Virtual sports attract both traditional sports bettors and casual players due to their straightforward gameplay and accessibility.
- Fair and regulated outcomes: Since virtual sports use RNG technology, outcomes are fair, transparent, and suitable for regulated betting environments.
Tips for using virtual sports.
For iGaming brands:
- Optimize scheduling: Integrate virtual sports strategically during off-peak times to sustain player engagement, especially in regions where live sports might be less popular.
- Leverage data insights: Use player engagement data from virtual sports to refine marketing strategies and inform cross-selling opportunities with live sports events.
- Market to casual players: Virtual sports attract a wide demographic, including casual players. Design marketing campaigns that emphasize accessibility, fast results, and simple betting options.
For players:
- Understand RNG mechanics: Recognize that outcomes are RNG-based, which means each event is independent, fair, and random.
- Manage betting budgets: Set a budget when engaging in virtual sports betting to ensure a balanced and enjoyable experience.
- Experiment with different sports: Virtual sports offer a variety of options; exploring multiple sports can provide a diversified and engaging betting experience.