Official betting refers to sports wagering that is sanctioned and regulated by the league or event’s governing body. The NFL and the MLB are two examples of professional leagues with officially licensed sportsbooks, allowing bettors to place bets on games that will be paid out according to established rules and regulations.

Individuals associated with clubs at lower levels of the men’s and women’s league systems and match officials at FA Level 4 or below are banned from placing bets on matches in which they play or have any influence over the outcome. They can, however, bet on non-league games as long as they are not sponsored by betting companies and do not advertise the practice.

All bets will stand if games are abandoned and restarted within 24 hours, but any bets on the totals market will not stand if the game reaches the ninth innings or beyond. Similarly, bets on baseball games that end in a tie will be deemed void.

In the early 1900s, a gambling scandal involving eight members of the Chicago White Sox led to their being banned from the sport for life, one of the most famous sports betting scandals of all time. More recently, Pete Rose was banned for his involvement in a similar alleged betting scheme that was part of the 1989 World Series.

The NFL is investing in sportsbook integrity and beefing up its security teams to prevent players from violating betting rules. This includes a new system that monitors bets, where they are placed and who is placing them. The system uses a mix of human and artificial intelligence to identify suspicious activity, and if a player is found in violation of the betting rules, they will be suspended from play.