Official betting is the act of placing a wager on a game, event or player outcome. It is only legal in states where it is legal and regulated by state law.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling to allow sports betting in more than 30 US states, sportsbook operators have been releasing wagering lines. New York leads all states in total betting handle, with Nevada, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island rounding out the top five. The NFL has a unique once-a-year betting opportunity with its Super Bowl championship betting bracket that allows fans to choose the winner of each game.

NBA players face a more complicated set of rules when it comes to making bets. They are not allowed to place bets while they are at work, and they must disclose any wagers if asked by management. The rules also prohibit players from gambling on games in their hotel rooms or during road trips, and any alleged violations can result in an automatic suspension.

In baseball, the Commissioner’s Office has strict rules against bribing players and officials to fix games. Anyone caught violating the rules is banned from the sport forever, and even if they are reinstated a few years later, they are permanently barred from the Hall of Fame. A rule is posted on dugout walls that reads: “Any player, umpire, club, or league official who bets on a baseball game in which he has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.”