Official betting is a form of sports gambling that is regulated at the state level. Each state has its own licensing regime and is responsible for ensuring that games are fair. Currently, 36 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting through retail and online sportsbooks. It is illegal to bet on sports in states that do not have a legalized market.

Several sports have been implicated in scandals that threaten the integrity of the game, including point shaving (players making bets to affect the score), spot-fixing (betting on specific player actions), and bad calls by referees at key moments. Several of these scandals have influenced the integrity of professional sports and led to suspensions for players.

In the United States, betting on football is prohibited by the Football Association’s rules. Individuals associated with clubs at levels below the men’s or women’s league systems and match officials at FA Level 4 and below are banned from advertising or promoting any betting activity. The FA also bans anyone from seeking, offering or agreeing to accept a bribe to fix a match and/or event within a match. The FA also prohibits the misuse of inside information that could reasonably be used for betting purposes.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has stated that the NHL does not have a position on legalized sports betting, though he said it would be “inconsistent with our values” to ban it. Despite this, the league has signed sponsorships with betting companies and offers in-game wagering on its website.