Betting On The GRAND NATIONAL - Sat 4th April

Betting on virtual Grand National to benefit NHS -

Like a flutter on the Grand National? If you do, bookmakers will offer odds on the televised virtual race, which has replaced the Aintree event - with all profits made going to the NHS.

A maximum bet of £10, either on the winner or each way, will be allowed, says the Betting and Gaming Council.

The National, one of the UK's most iconic sporting events, should have been held at the Liverpool racecourse on Saturday.

Forty of the runners which were set to take part will instead feature in the virtual race which uses CGI technology and special algorithms.

It will be broadcast by ITV at 17:00 BST on Saturday.

What is the Virtual Grand National 2020? How is the winner decided?

The Virtual Grand National is a computer simulation of the Grand National.

Makers Inspired Entertainment use computer-generated imagery (CGI), to faithfully recreate Aintree’s Grand National course, complete with spruce-topped fences and signature jumps such as Becher’s Brook and The Chair.

Inspired feed form information for the 40 runners and riders deemed most likely to contest this year’s edition into algorithms which then simulate the running and results of the race.

In agreement with the UK Gambling commission the race has been pre-recorded by production company Carm productions on behalf of ITV.

This means a small amount of operationally necessary people will know the result of the race. All of these individuals are subject to strict confidentiality obligations. Meanwhile no licensed betting operator will be party to the result in line with strict gambling regulations.

The UKs major betting operators have confirmed that all profits from the race will be donated to NHS Charities Together, an umbrella organisation representing 140 NHS charities.

Betting and Gaming Council members including bet365, William Hill, Flutter Entertainment (owners of Betfair and Paddy Power), Sky Bet, GVC (whose brands include Ladbrokes and Coral), Betfred, Betway, BetVictior and the Tote have backed the initiative.

Virtual Grand National raises money for charity

The virtual Grand National - a computerised version of one of the UK's annual sporting highlights - has raised over £2.6m for NHS Charities Together.

With the National cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, a virtual race - using CGI technology and special algorithms - took place on Saturday.

Bookmakers paid out on the bets placed on 18-1 Welsh "winner" Potters Corner, but will donate profits from losing bets to the NHS.