Official betting is a form of sports betting where oddsmakers make bets on the outcome of games and tournaments. It is a popular type of betting that can be found in many countries worldwide and is especially popular in the United States.
In the USA, it is legal to place bets on sports games in more than 30 states (plus DC). During the 2018-2019 season, there are currently over 40 different types of sportsbooks in the country, including Daily Fantasy Sports providers like FanDuel and Draft Kings.
A major factor in determining which sportsbook to choose is the amount of betting options available on each game. These include things like point spreads, moneylines and totalizators.
Betting on football, baseball and basketball games are all a popular choice for fans in the United States. Kansas, for example, is home to some of the most popular NFL teams in the country and there is no shortage of hordes of football fans in the Sunflower State.
In recent years, there has been a growing conversation about official betting. Leagues are looking for a way to collect a share of the wagers made on their behalf and they are trying to do this by lobbying for official data mandates in state sports betting laws.
Several states have passed laws that require sportsbooks to use official data. However, the industry argues that these mandates are not reasonable and do not guarantee integrity in legal US sports betting.