Simulated Sports Betting: Bet on Sport/Esport Simulations

Simulated sports betting has become a popular alternative to traditional wagering, offering fast-paced events that run 24/7 instead of following real-world schedules. Outcomes are determined by certified RNG (random number generator) software, so you still get realistic odds and stats-style markets without having to wait for actual matches to start.

If you don’t want to spend hours hunting for trustworthy sports sim betting platforms, use the curated list below. Each site has been selected for its reliable software, competitive odds, and user-friendly interface, so you can focus on enjoying simulated sports rather than worrying about where to place your bets.

Top Virtual Sports Betting Sites

Simulated Sports Betting: What is It?

What do you think is the best way to conduct tournaments during the pandemic? Obviously, it would be pretty hard to put all the competitors into a single arena where they would face each other in battle due to restrictions. That is when bookies and sports sponsors decided to eliminate the human element and try to conduct tournaments between AI (artificial intelligence).

At first, this idea seemed like it would never work. But in practice, such games started to attract more and more sports fans, to the point where everybody got familiar with sports sims.

Luckily, due to many different virtual sports games, it wasn't hard to find a place where AI would compete. Thus, bookies take one of the popular titles (FIFA, NBA2K, MADDEN, NFL) and launch a match between the smartest game's AI.

People who had never tried simulated sports betting before are impressed with the spectacle. It is due to the amazing graphics and animations implemented in modern virtual sports games. In addition, fans are always glad to see their favorite players and teams on the screen, as they look just like the real ones!

And if you get bored from betting on regular games, you can check out other game modes. Those are variations of the game, which are changed slightly and are unique to sports sims.

Simulated Sports Betting against Esports

One of the best ways to better understand simulated sports betting is by comparing it to its competitors. For instance, do you know the difference between sports sims and eSports?

During eSports tournaments, all the games conducted include at least one player who is an actual person. Some eSports games suggest having a couple of AIs, but the human role is irreplaceable. Learn more about eSports betting peculiarities with this guide on how you can bet on eSports.

In comparison, the sports sims strictly don't allow any actual person to their games. So all the matches are solely performed by AI, and that is the feature that makes such games more exciting. Even if we consider it a part for entertainment purposes, AI is very unpredictable and can turn around the lost matches in a few plays.

Also, sports games are not the most popular activity types at eSports tournaments. Among eSports, you will usually see Dota 2, CS:GO, Overwatch, etc., while FIFA and NBA2K games are more niche.

Simulated Sports Betting against Virtual Sports

If you wanted to know how virtual sports betting differs from sports sims, we would have a different talk.

First, the work of virtual sports is based on the random number generator, which predetermines a winner before the game starts. Although you will see the game displayed with all the visuals and animations, it is technically fake. So it is like a casino slot, where you can skip spinning animations to see if you won or not.

When you watch video game simulations, you see a real competition between two computers. They will not predetermine a winner like in virtual sports. On the contrary, they will try to perform during the game to find the best play to score a win.

But you can notice that virtual sports have more available activities on their list. Technically, simulated sports betting can introduce similar games too, but they are trying to stick to the most popular sports.

Simulated Sports Betting against Fantasy Sports

Fantasy sports is another sphere similar to sports simulation games, but it has numerous differences. But, let's discuss some similarities first.

Thus, in sports simulation games and fantasy sports, both teams' players have their stats and capabilities calculated. These indicators are used to define the competition's winner in both sim and fantasy sports, but they are applied differently.

In fantasy sports, people use their brains and analytical capabilities to draw the competition in their minds. And based on that, they try to understand which team would be a probable winner. In most cases, they compare players on each team to define the odds of winning.

While in the video game simulations, all these stats and capabilities are put into practice, where you can watch how the players will use them in real-time.

How Does Simulated Sports Betting Work?

Once we understand what sports simulation games are, we can learn the principles of betting. However, before we jump in, know that you must utilize an eSport deposit bonus every time you bet. It will increase your winnings and allow you to make more wagers.

What are the Available Betting Lines?

If we start talking about sports bets, casual users instantly think about betting on the match winner. But real pro bettors know it is just one of many betting lines available. Betting markets allow you to predict various outcomes during the match and bet on it. Diverse markets have different odds, and they can change during the game. Learn more about eSports odds here.

Of course, many different factors influence a number of betting markets. For example, almost any bookie will allow you to bet on a match winner, but not everyone will let you choose who scores a certain number of total points first. In addition, betting markets can vary depending on the chosen simulated game. For example, if you are betting on the simulated UFC match, you will often be allowed to choose who makes the first knockdown during a fight. While if you bet on soccer, you can wager on who will score the first goal.

Are Simulated Sports Bets Legal and Regulated by Law?

With many newcomers entering the betting world of sports sims, they ask, is it legal to bet on sports sims? And to answer that question, you must examine online sportsbooks where you plan to bet.

The first thing to look at is the license. If the website has a license, the law regulates everything done within this platform. In other words, if the betting platform will deceive you, trying to steal your funds, you can easily force them to give your money back with the assistance of the laws. It depends on the license issuer which laws are applied to the betting platform.

To check the legitimacy of the license, you would need to scroll to the bottom of the website and look for the little text where you would see a license and its number. Then, you can go to the license issuer's website and manually check the license's legitimacy, using its number.

Are Simulated Sports Bets Fair and Random?

Speaking about the fairness of sports betting on simulated games, we should appeal to each game separately. Thus, every game has its own AI and programming code, but major projects are simply impossible to be unfair.

Even if they are, how would you imagine that? Making an AI intentionally lose a match is a tough task. This is mainly because such AI behavior is not written in the initial code. And if online sportsbooks want to make an unfair game, they must go into the programming to rewrite the AI. As you can guess, such acts are not quite rational and take too many resources.

Remember when we were talking about teams/single competitors' stats previously? These indicators are made to facilitate fairness and exclude a random factor. For example, two fighters are competing at a UFC match. One of them is agile, while another has more strength. So if the AI who is stronger will not manage to land a solid punch or get him into a grab, he will probably lose to the swifter fighter.

But overall, competitors are chosen equally, so they will have comparable chances of winning. Such an approach helps to simulate real competing conditions and gives the win to the one AI that performs better.

What Are The Kinds of Simulated Sports Games Available?

Nowadays, there are plenty of simulated sports betting games to choose from. Such variety makes it easy for bettors to catch up and find a suitable sport for themselves. Thus, the most popular simulated sports are:

EA FIFA Soccer

Image credit: EA

When you want a battle between AI teams in soccer, there is no better place to do it than in the FIFA game. It is a leading title of soccer games that have been around for almost three decades and keeps releasing a new version of the game each year.

In the latest game, the graphics are some of the most impressive in the gaming industry. No joke, people who are not acquainted with the FIFA game can easily confuse it with an actual soccer match. In addition, the teams' rosters are regularly updated, making the game very close to real soccer. So if you are wondering whether you will see your favorite freshman perform in the sports sim match, you should not be worried about it.

FIFA allows users to adjust the length of the match, moving away from the classical ninety minutes. Such novelty is considered an advantage among most betting pros, saving their time. But the FIFA matches are long enough to make live bets available, but many bettors can find them tricky. Learn how to make eSports live bets most efficiently and take advantage of the better odds while you can.

Knowing that people are seeking balanced and intriguing games, online sportsbooks balance the characters' stats, making them at least 85. It brings more contests to the games and makes teams (their odds of winning) more equal.

Image credit: EA

Madden NFL Football

If you are a football fan, then you will be glad to know that Madden NFL Football remains one of the most popular sports betting games AI will play.

NFL game has features similar to the FIFA game, like outstanding graphics and new team rosters. Almost any site will set a match to the rookie mode, with most of the stats set to the default.

The game is often parted into quarters taking up to 15 minutes, with an accelerated clock of twenty seconds.

Common betting lines you will find on the NFL game are the match winners, handicaps, over/under, etc. But such lines as "The first team to score a touchdown" are unique and will suit people who are into football games well.

NBA 2K Basketball

Image credit: 2K Sports

In periods when the NBA season is off, it is a struggle for folks who like to see LeBron dunk the ball to stay off the game. Luckily, there is a solution in the form of sports sim betting on the NBA 2K.

Almost every basketball fan is already familiar with an NBA 2K game. It has a long history during which the game was undergoing its best and worst times. But regardless of the past, nowadays, the NBA 2K is on top of the basketball games industry.

The betting site can choose among many adjustments to set to their contest, like timings and team comps. But the most common option to establish is the hall of fame mode, which conducts a game between the best NBA players of all time.

Image credit: Psyonix

Rocket League

A combination of the football and arcade racing game might seem weird, but this game is adored by spectators and eSports bookmakers. Even though eSports competitions are very popular in Rocket League, simulated games also found their niche here.

As you could guess, Rocket League is not a classic sport that has any real-life counterparts. So there will be no analogs of the real players/teams to play against each other. But on the other hand, we have a unique competition with uncommon rules and plenty of game modes, starting with soccer and finishing with basketball.

So if you want to get a unique sports betting experience, Rocket League is an exceptional option.

UFC 3

If you are more into combat sports, you will never find a better sports sim to bet on than UFC 3. It is a mixed-fight sport where two fighters are trying to win a battle, using techniques from various combat sports. Bookmakers can set different winning conditions and match length adjustments. Thus, a match can go until a full knockout or last full five rounds.

Image credit: EA

Other Titles

Of course, there are many other games to enjoy sports betting. The only thing that limits them is the choice of the bookmaker. Thus, if the wagers on the desired game are unavailable on a certain platform, just look for another betting platform. But make sure that it has available esports betting with real money. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to win any actual prize.

Are Sports Betting Simulators Available on Mobile Devices?

More and more betting experts nowadays tend to wager on sports with their gadgets. So it is highly important to make sports sims betting available on mobile. In practice, almost any solid bookmaker has its mobile app or browser version, which is compatible with most devices.

So if you plan to wager on sports sims with your mobile phone, you will probably succeed regardless of your device. If you struggle to find a good mobile betting platform, use this best eSports betting app list featuring the best bookmakers.

What Is the Future of Simulated Sports Betting?

Although we don't have any extrasensory capabilities, we know that sports sim betting will remain a stable and entertaining niche for betting. It has everything gamblers seek action-packed spectacle, a variety of games and betting markets, adjustability, and much more.

In the future, we will see new sports games which will look even better than the present ones. AI is also making steps forward with every new release. Thus, simulated sports betting will only get more popular over the years, and maybe, one day, it can even become a rival to real sports.