Official betting is legal sports wagering on real-time events that are regulated by the state in which they take place. Currently, it’s available in most US states. There are a variety of bets you can place, including match bets, tournament outrights, and player prop bets. These bets can result in large payouts if a team wins, but you should know the rules before placing a bet.
The US Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, paving the way for legal sports gambling. However, California is still the only major US state where sports betting has yet to launch. The state’s tribal casinos launched an initiative that will allow retail sports betting at their sites. However, California residents will have to wait until 2023 to be able to place bets on sports games using a legal app or website.
Legislators in several states have tried to pass sports betting laws since SCOTUS struck down PASPA. One issue that remains in limbo is whether to require the use of official league data in sports betting. Leagues have lobbied for this data requirement, and many legislators support it. However, the American Gaming Association has opposed the idea of legislative mandates to use official data.
Illinois and Tennessee have both enacted laws requiring sportsbooks to use official data for Tier 2 bets, which include game totals. These bets can only be placed with the consent of an athlete’s players’ association. However, many players’ unions will likely resist any attempt to monetize or store their biometric data for sports betting purposes.