Official betting is sports wagering that meets the requirements of a sport’s governing body. This means that the bettor is placing a wager on an event or game that is regulated by state gaming regulators to ensure games are fair, bets are honored and customers’ funds are secure. Licensed operators offer a range of different bet types, including point spreads, money lines and totals. In addition, they often feature innovative promotions and marketing strategies that keep players engaged.

A number of states are now offering legal sports betting. Most of these offer online sportsbooks, and the most popular bets are on American football, basketball and baseball. In addition, there are a variety of specialized bets available in areas such as horse racing and golf.

Some states have strict rules about official betting, while others have no such requirements. In general, however, a bet on an official event should use data provided by the league to determine winners and losers. This data is considered the most accurate and reliable by sportsbooks, which have a financial interest in the integrity of sports betting. The American Gaming Association supports private commercial agreements for official betting data and opposes legislative mandates.

Generally, individual players and club officials are banned from betting on their own matches or competitions. This also applies to anyone associated with clubs at lower levels of the men’s or women’s league systems. In addition, individuals may not solicit or accept bribes to fix a match. A player or official who violates these rules can be permanently barred from the game, as was the case with Joseph Sullivan, the bookmaker and gambler behind the 1919 Black Sox Scandal.