Official betting is any form of wagering on a game that is officially sanctioned by a sports league. It can take the form of traditional money lines, spreads and parlays, as well as prop bets that offer more granularity, such as how many points a particular player will score. This type of wagering is popular among fans and can add a whole new dimension to the viewing experience for both casual and seasoned bettors.

The utility of official data as the basis for a reliable, consistent, and competitive in-play betting product is debatable. But the industry has resoundingly rejected proposals from leagues to compel operators to pay for their data via so-called integrity fees, which are akin to a cut of US sportsbook handle. Distributors have been unwilling to change pricing based on mandates from lawmakers, and Nevada has paid no such fee in its decades of bookmaking.

Individuals associated with clubs at lower levels of the men’s and women’s league systems, as well as match officials at FA Level 4 or below, are prohibited from placing bets on football matches. This is to ensure that the integrity of a game is not compromised by people seeking, offering or accepting bribes to fix games.

Over/Under totals are bets on the combined number of points scored in a given game, and they’re a great way to spice up your NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB betting action. Just remember that the Over is never over until the final whistle blows, and it’s always possible for a defensive slugfest to finish with fewer than expected total points.