Sports betting is a legal and legitimate form of gambling that allows bettors to place wagers on the outcome of a game or event. The bets are placed into pools and if the bettors win, they get paid. But there are rules and regulations in place to ensure the integrity of the games and the safety of bettors. These regulations are known as official betting.

Official betting rules state that bets must be placed based on official data from the league or tournament organizers. As states legalize regulated sports betting, the battles for control over this data are one of the biggest issues. This issue has led to the implementation of a wide variety of rules for sportsbooks.

Bets are generally made on specific events, such as the winner of a game or a particular team’s total points scored in a game. Other types of bets include moneylines, over/unders and season totals. The latter type of bets can be based on any number of factors, including player stats or the total number of points a team will score in a season.

Most sportsbooks have various customer support options. These typically include FAQ articles, live chat and phone support. A good customer support team is crucial to a successful gambling experience. In addition, responsible gaming resources are available, which include educational guides on how to spot problem gambling and links to help services. In addition, many reputable sites offer tools to self-exclude for a set period of time.