Official betting is the term for betting on a game that is sanctioned by the league governing body. It can be made on a wide variety of events, including the number of yards a quarterback will throw for in a given game or who will catch the first touchdown of a particular contest. Official betting is available at legal online and retail sportsbooks, as well as through in-person kiosks at some casinos.

The NFL has been a leader in official betting, but the nascent industry faces challenges from regulators and sportsbooks alike. Official betting can be a tricky proposition because of how it affects the integrity of games, and the league is working hard to ensure its safety. This involves boosting security personnel, partnering with sportsbooks and independent integrity firms, and ensuring that the league has visibility into bets on its games, where they are placed, and who is placing them.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling against PASPA, many states began introducing sports betting legislation. Massachusetts lawmakers crafted legislation in 2021, which passed the House and Senate and was signed by Gov. Charlie Baker. The state’s first sportsbooks went live in March of that year, and eight online sportsbooks — DraftKings, FanDuel, WynnBET, Betr, PlaySugarhouse, BetRivers, BetMGM, and Caesars — have launched in the state since then. Retail sportsbooks are also launching at casinos across the state. The full range of available sportsbooks in Massachusetts will continue to expand over the coming months, as more brick-and-mortar establishments and online sportsbooks partner with licensed operators.