Official betting refers to bets that are settled based on statistics, results and other data provided by the governing body of a particular sport. It is a popular way to make wagers on sports. It is a hot topic in the United States as sports leagues seek to control how wagers are placed on their events.

In 2021, sportsbooks began accepting bets in Iowa as the state legalized sports gambling. In-person and mobile sports betting was allowed in the state. However, bets on collegiate games and player props were prohibited.

The debate on official data erupted after the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA in May 2018. Leagues began lobbying lawmakers to include official data mandates in new sports betting laws in states that would regulate the industry. The NFL and MLB made their pitch to lawmakers during the summer of 2018, urging them to adopt a model similar to that in West Virginia.

Official data mandates require states to have a contractual agreement with the league and agree to certain terms, including a fee for licensing the use of the information. The American Gaming Association supports private commercial agreements between leagues and sportsbooks, but opposes legislative mandates requiring the inclusion of official data in new betting laws. Some states have included the language, but others have opted to include discretion over data sources in their rules, allowing regulators to make their own decisions about the best source for official data.