If you are a neophyte who would like some guidance before setting off to do spread betting with cash, it might be a wise idea to engage in a dry run on a virtual trading system.

A range of platforms, which permit punters to hone their skills without losing much money, are offered by Cantor Index, City Index, Capital Spreads, and most other spread-betting companies. And advisers celebrate them as superior educational tools. As spread betting has become more popular, the size of deals has increased, which means training is pivotal, analysts say.