Virtual sports are computer‑simulated sporting events on which you can place bets - just like with real sports betting. The events are generated using software (often involving 3D graphics, animations, and random number generators, or RNGs) to mimic the look, rules and outcomes of real sports. Imagine a computer game where there are no human players. You can bet on things like virtual football, horse racing, greyhound racing, tennis, motorsport, and more.
Many punters will remember walking into a TAB and seeing "Trackside" - computer-simuated horse races that you could bet on. Virtual sports is taking the Trackside concept to the next level.
Key Features of Virtual Sports Betting
- Fast, constant action – Events happen frequently (often every few minutes), 24/7, with no dependency on real-world scheduling, weather, player injuries, or seasonal breaks.
- Predictable rules & structure – The rules, race distances, team strengths etc. are built into the software.
- Randomness + weighting – Odds and outcomes are typically governed by two factors: preset probabilities (for example, some “teams” or “horses” are designed to have greater chances) plus an RNG element to ensure unpredictability and fairness.
- Flexible markets – Even though the event is virtual, you often get a variety of betting markets: winner, correct score, over/under, forecasts, etc.
- Visual and entertainment component – Because virtual sports are visual simulations, they try to replicate the viewing experience (commentary, graphics) to make it engaging.
How Virtual Sports Betting Works
1. Software platform sets up a virtual event – e.g. a virtual horse race or football match.
2. Betting markets are offered before the event begins.
3. The event unfolds on screen, following the simulation.
4. Outcomes are determined and payouts are made immediately after.
Because there is no real human player, weather, or changing lineup, the variables are fewer, and the betting is more about probabilities as predetermined by the software plus chance.
Virtual Sports Betting Launches in New Zealand
In mid‑2025, New Zealand passed major reforms to its gambling laws, particularly around online sports and racing betting, which also has implications for virtual sports betting. As of 28 June 2025, under amendments to the Racing Industry Act 2020, only TAB New Zealand is legally permitted to offer online sports and racing betting to people located in NZ. Offshore operators must cease offering these services to New Zealand customers.
The reform aims to redirect wagering revenue back into domestic racing and sports organisations while ensuring consumer protection and responsible gambling oversight by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
Impact on Virtual Sports in New Zealand
Because virtual sports fall under “sports/racing betting” (in many operator offerings), the new law means:
- Only TAB NZ (and its associated / licensed entities) can legally offer virtual sports betting to people in New Zealand. Offshore sites will no longer be able to do so (without risking breach of the law).
- Customers should check that any betting site offering virtual sports is legally operating under NZ law. If an offer comes from an overseas site not covered by the TAB’s license, it may be illegal or unsafe.
- With the monopoly, there could be less competition in terms of variable offerings (markets, frequency, graphics) for virtual sports, but perhaps stronger regulatory oversight and consumer protections.
Virtual sports betting offers a fast, always-available, graphic, simulated betting experience. With New Zealand’s recent legal changes, the landscape has shifted so that TAB NZ is now the only legal provider for online sports and racing bets, which includes virtual sports in many contexts. If you’re a punter in NZ interested in virtual sports, it’s more important than ever to confirm you are using a lawful, licensed operator and to understand the terms, the odds mechanisms, and to approach betting responsibly.
