When a bet is made on an event or game that is officially sanctioned by the sport’s governing body, it’s known as official betting. These bets can lead to large payouts if placed correctly. The practice of official betting is regulated in many states and can be found online.

In the United States, sportsbooks that offer official betting usually partner with a sport’s league to use their data in placing wagers. This partnership enables sportsbooks to have a more comprehensive betting product and can result in additional revenue for the sportsbook. The league benefits from the partnership by getting name-brand recognition in sportsbook advertising.

Despite these advantages, the use of official data is controversial. The utility and reliability of the information varies among different sportsbooks, but many industry representatives consider mandating its use to be bad policy. Several laws in the US have attempted to include an official data mandate, and the NBA has blocked in-play betting operators without access to its feed.

In the NFL, players are banned from placing bets on their own team and can face sanctions if they do so while at their team’s facilities or when on the road with the league. In addition, players must sign a statement acknowledging gambling rules as part of their contracts. As a result, former players like former Detroit Lions receiver Quintez Cephus and Washington Commanders safety CJ Moore have received indefinite suspensions for violating these rules. Other sports leagues have similar regulations on betting.