Official betting is when you place a wager on an event that is governed by state law and overseen by a gaming commission. It’s the standard form of sports betting and is available at regulated sportsbooks and online.

In the United States, the NFL is one of the most popular sports for betting and there are a number of different odds and lines to choose from for each game. There are also a number of unique prop bets that are specific to certain players or teams.

The NCAA has concerns that legalized sports gambling could lead to student-athletes and athletics staff being harassed by people with gambling interests. It also worries that the billions of dollars spent on ad campaigns may encourage students to engage in irresponsible behavior. In September 2023, an NCAA survey of campus administrators found that 10% of Division I respondents reported that they were aware of student-athletes being targeted by bettors.

Colorado: Voters approved sports betting in 2019, and the first retail and online sportsbooks opened on May 1. A new gambling compact with the state’s tribes will allow more books to open later this year.

Connecticut: The state’s sportsbooks launched in October of 2021, with retail options from DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers opening on the same day as an online launch. A new sportsbook gambling compact with the state’s tribal casinos will add more locations and offer additional online and mobile options.

Illinois: Legislation to legalize sports betting passed in 2019 and the first in-person and online sportsbooks opened in March of 2022. Initially, Illinois required in-person registration for online and mobile betting but that requirement was dropped in March of 2023.