The Supreme Court decision in 2021 allowed individual states to legalize sports betting, and the industry quickly expanded. State laws and regulations vary, but the vast majority of legal sports betting in America is conducted at regulated bookmakers. These companies must adhere to rigorous licensing regimes, and they are required to publish the odds of a particular event and disclose any conflict of interest or potential bias. As the industry has grown, professional leagues have stepped up their own efforts to ensure integrity by forming partnerships with sportsbooks and monitoring the betting market through their own research staff.

The NBA, for instance, limits its players’ wagering to non-NBA games, and prohibits them from placing bets at team facilities or on the road with their teams. The NHL has taken a similar approach, signing sponsorship deals with bookmakers and offering players in-game data.

Officials are screened for any criminal charges or convictions involving gambling and sports wagering, and any such violations can result in them being permanently banned from Major League Baseball (MLB). It’s also important to note that MLB players, umpires, and club and league employees who place bets on any game in which they have an obligation to perform are also forever banned from the Hall of Fame.