Official betting refers to the types of bets placed on professional sports league games. These bets can be made at online or land-based sportsbooks, and the rules are set by each sport’s governing body. The rules generally prohibit players, coaches, and other personnel from placing bets on themselves or their teams during competitions. This is known as self-segregation, and it is designed to keep bettors from influencing the outcome of the game in which they are participating.

While some of these rules vary from one league to the next, the general rule is that a bet is only considered official if it is placed through a licensed bookmaker. The betting provider must also accept the bet and verify the information in order for it to count as a win or loss. Moreover, the operator must also report any prohibited activities to the state and to the sports governing body. This may include providing account-level betting information and audio or video files relating to persons placing wagers.

In Nevada, legal sports betting debuted in 2021 after the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The state offers both retail and online wagering through books like the Westgate and Caesars Palace. New Hampshire legalized sports betting in 2019 and launched its online sportsbook in November. The state partnered with DraftKings as its exclusive online and mobile betting partner.

New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize sports betting after the Supreme Court ruling. Its retail and online sportsbooks went live in November 2018 with SugarHouse, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, and BetMGM as the first books to open for business.