Official betting is a form of sports wagering that is offered on official game statistics by licensed operators in jurisdictions that regulate the activity. Bettors can make straight bets or bet on specific game outcomes, including over/under total points and game-related props. These bets are made using the odds that bookmakers issue in real-time. These odds are determined by the share of overall wagering volume that each possible outcome receives, taking into account the bookmaker’s return rate. The more money is placed on a particular outcome, the lower the odds will be.

When betting on sports, it is important to avoid putting too much bias into your selections. It is okay to bet on your favorite team, but you must be able to remove your own personal interest in the result and pick the most likely outcome. You should also be sure to check out the latest stats and injury reports before placing any bets.

A betting scandal involving professional baseball players took place in 1919, when professional gambler Joseph Sullivan paid eight members of the Chicago White Sox (Oscar Felsch, Arnold Gandil, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Fred McMullin, Charles Risberg, George Weaver, and Claude Williams) around 10,000 dollars each to fix the World Series. All eight players were permanently banned from playing professionally, though some were reinstated a few years later.

Pennsylvania is currently the only state that allows both retail and online sports betting. However, the market will eventually expand to include more retail and online sportsbooks once regulations are finalized. The state has three land-based books operated by FanDuel, DraftKings, and William Hill, and it offers a reasonable 10% tax rate on sports wagering revenue.