Virtual sports events are conducted with dedicated and legal software that is responsible for the execution and control of bets during each event. The software also uses a specialised algorithm, also called a random number generator (RNG). This algorithm is similar to those also used in slot machines and other casino games, which ultimately ensures that the gameplay delivers completely fair, unbiased and random results on various events. In short, this means that betting on virtual sports is on randomly determined outcomes of virtual events.
The popularity of this type of game is partly due to the possibility for users to create their own fantasy sports team. Users of this type of game can place bets based on their predictions, covering an almost infinite range of games, as well as several computer-generated leagues and matches – at any time of the day.
What is virtual sports betting?
Bookmakers’ virtual sports bets import the names and player statistics of real sports stars, real teams and players, and are displayed in each team’s real team colours. Bets are conducted in photorealistic replicas of real stadium names. It is simply real-life sporting events that provide the inspiration for the virtual sports game.
Each type of virtual sport is carefully executed to best mimic the real world. The virtual sports also use advanced sound and graphics rendering, so everything looks ultra realistic in 3D format and gives an almost completely real world feel.
As an example, football’s virtual game maintains all aspects of its real-life counterpart. Footballers remain in the same positions, their movements and functions follow the sport’s strategies, rules and regulations. This includes goalkeepers trying to save or block shots from attackers in the goal area, referees whistling for offsides infringements or showing the occasional yellow/red card, or awarding a penalty kick, linesmen marking if a ball has landed outside the line, etc. Injuries sustained by players, and virtual spectators shouting and singing battle songs as if in a real stadium.
The origins of virtual sport
John Burgeson wrote the first virtual sports program, coding his invention on an old IBM 1620 computer using just 20 KB of RAM. The year was 1961, and the game was fantasy baseball. John’s first program, similar to today’s versions of the simulator, also used an RNG to determine random outcomes of games between two teams. This was using completely independent software.
Over the decades, programming has increased in complexity and sophistication, and it has today yielded more refined products we see incorporated on current sportsbook sites offered online. The quality and experience today is on a completely different level than it was from the beginning.
