One of the biggest changes in the gambling industry over the past two decades has been what you can bet on. Historically, gambling was confined mostly to table games, card games, and major sports events. But, the digitization of gambling radically changed that.

The Rise of Virtual Betting

Virtual betting didn’t actually begin online, despite popular belief. It was the physical bookmakers that began installing digital machines in their establishments so that punters could gamble without waiting for real-life events. Although slots were present, the idea was to bring something for the sports bettors, and so virtual horse racing was born. 

Virtual horse racing appealed to a broad customer base, while real horse racing was catered more to an older audience or one that is very enthusiastic about the sport. These virtual horse racing machines allowed the enthusiasts and older bettors to have an option when no real horses were on, but also attracted a younger audience that saw it like a video game. 

Graphics began to improve and the feeling of watching a real-life horse racing event was becoming replicated accurately. The global betting market size for all virtual sports is now reaching $10 billion. This rapid growth is because the virtual machines are, of course, not only played in physical bookmakers (which are rapidly closing down), but on the online platforms, which can be more easily accessed. Now, many online casinos with the best payouts are offering betting opportunities on a variety of virtual sports. Additionally, these platforms provide detailed comparisons and information on pokies with the highest payouts, allowing users to make more informed choices. Beyond just gaming, they also highlight different bonuses and promotions that can enhance the online gaming experience. 

Virtual Billiards

We can confidently say that virtual billiards was born in 2008, when 8 Ball Pool was launched as a free web browser game that was published on Miniclip. Because of its success, it quickly got developed and released as a mobile app on both iOS and Android. Today, in 2024, it’s no less popular. 

Over the years, we have become extremely familiar with the iconic visuals of 8 Ball Pool the mini game. So much so that it sparked the idea of virtual pool more broadly, like the horses, as a betting outlet.

Virtual Billiards Betting

Betting on virtual billiards has become the latest trend to emerge out of the casino industry – there’s always something new, and it’s virtual billiards’ turn to be flavor of the month. 

One of the reasons for its success is perhaps the hypnotic element of watching virtual billiards. It’s both nostalgic yet captivating, and now the result can be wagered - even if it is the computer vs the computer. 

Advancements in the gameplay and graphics have attracted those that don’t have a nostalgia for online billiards but instead prefer the real-life version. It’s now the case that viewers can scratch their billiards itch with these virtual games, all while upping the stakes. 

The Advantages of Virtual Billiards Betting

Betting on real-world billiards is of course possible, and still a lot of fun. However, there’s a serious lack of matches, with most days having limited opportunities. The US is where most games are played, along with the UK and a few others, but it’s not a globally prominent enough sport to have 24/7 matches. 

This is where virtual billiards fill a gap in the market. Much like the punters waiting around in the bookies and turning to virtual horses, virtual billiards are now a 24/7 entertainment opportunity. 

More than just having a higher volume of matches, it also has the potential to be more social. With no such copyright issues unlike televised billiards, streamers can do watch-alongs to virtual billiards, wager, and have a community that interacts. There is a greater opportunity for sharing an engaging experience, not to mention that games can begin in a click of a button. 

Final Word 

Virtual billiards betting is showing us that virtual sports are a legitimate and popular way to gamble. In fact, it may have been the rise in streaming that also helped open this door to watch-alongs of virtual games, but it’s clear that there are still many more opportunities. 

We expect to see a merging of video games and virtual betting markets. That is, they will become sophisticated enough in their graphics that the line between watching video games online and betting on them becomes blurred. Currently, casinos aren’t on par with dedicated video games, but because the latter is reaching a plateau, we may see the two come closer together.