Sports Betting – What Is Official Betting?

In official betting, you place your wager on the final score of a game or event. The result of the game is determined by the team with the most points or goals, or the winning player in a tie. The total (also known as the OVER/UNDER) is the combined points scored by both teams in the game, including overtime. Point spreads fluctuate and the official point spread in effect at the time of your transaction is used for betting purposes.

The NFL has ramped up its sports betting integrity efforts, deploying extra security personnel and partnering with sportsbooks and integrity firms to improve visibility on the market and catch offenders. In addition, the league has added new rules to its player contracts that prohibit them from betting on games while at team or league facilities and when they are on the road with their teams.

Kentucky made legal sports betting on the last day of its 2023 legislative session, with retail and online options launching Sept. 7 and eight online books going live on Sept. 28, including DraftKings, SugarHouse, FanDuel and BetRivers.

Iowa legalized sports gambling in 2019 and began accepting bets that summer. Online sports betting launched in October 2021, and a variety of sites are now available. However, betting on collegiate games and players is prohibited. Rhode Island sports betting is controlled by the state lottery, with DraftKings and William Hill/IGT offering online options. Vermont hasn’t yet approved sports betting, and it is likely to wait until early 2024 before the state begins offering it.