Official betting is the process of placing bets on sporting events with a bookmaker. These bets are tracked and recorded and can affect the outcome of a match or competition. They also have a big impact on the popularity of sports and are a major source of income for many sports teams, particularly professional football clubs. This is a controversial issue as it can influence the integrity of the game.

Almost every sport has some form of betting, with football and basketball having the most popular options. In fact, the NBA and NHL seasons are currently underway, with March Madness kicking off in just a few weeks.

The NCAA is also embracing the new landscape by offering a series of online e-learning modules to educate student-athletes about gambling harms and the risks it poses to the integrity of the game. The program is designed to be an important tool in the fight against problem gambling and will help protect current and future students-athletes by educating them about the risks and helping them to make smarter choices.

West Virginia sprang into action following the Supreme Court ruling, with the first retail sportsbooks opening in September of 2018. The state launched with DraftKings and FanDuel leading the pack, followed by BetLucky (which shut down after just a year). The next state to legalize was North Carolina, which went live on March 11, 2024. The state is now home to a wide variety of licensed sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook, and more.