The NFL, MLB and NBA have rules in place to prevent their players, coaches and staff from gambling on sports. The NHL also has a ban on betting on NHL games that is included in the league constitution and posted in every dressing room. However, the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement doesn’t include any gambling rules.

The NCAA is concerned that billion-dollar ad campaigns can entice student-athletes or those around them to engage in irresponsible sports wagering. Billion-dollar wagers create the potential for NCAA staff members to be harassed or coerced by bettors while student-athletes can face repercussions that negatively impact their lives and undermine the integrity of college sport.

Professional sports teams have forged partnerships with betting sites and launched retail sportsbooks in some states. For example, Washington D.C.-based BetMGM has a sportsbook at Nationals Park and plans a mobile app. But most of the industry’s efforts to launch official betting have been hampered by the lack of available data, legal hurdles and technical challenges.

The legalization of sports betting varies from state to state, and differs by region as well. The EU has a unified approach, while the rest of the world sees a mix of regulated and illegal markets. While most of the world’s betting industry is growing, several countries have banned it entirely. Regardless of the legal environment, sports betting is poised to grow exponentially worldwide. As more sportsbooks open and new data emerges, regulators will continue to adjust laws, regulations and policies accordingly.