Official betting is a legal way to place wagers on regulated sports events. It is also one of the safest and most secure forms of online gambling.

There are a few things you should know about official betting, including its history and key rules. You should also be aware of the different types of sports bets and their payouts.

Football: Betting on a specific team can be a great way to predict an outcome. This is especially true during the playoffs, when some teams can be favored over others.

Basketball: NCAA basketball is a popular sport for seasoned handicappers, and it often takes over the headlines when March Madness rolls around. This is a huge betting event, and you can bet on every single game with a variety of bet-types available at legal US sportsbooks.

College Football: Most states that have legalized sports betting prohibit wagering on in-state college teams through mobile but allow retail books to offer action on those teams. However, there are exceptions to this rule in some cases, and you should be careful when choosing a site.

Baseball: Players, coaches and officials involved with Major League Baseball are banned from betting on their teams. They are also barred from soliciting or accepting bribes to fix a game or an event within a match.

Soccer: The World Cup, the Olympics and the International Women’s Soccer Federation all have their own official betting rules that apply to everyone involved in these events. These rules cover players, coaches and staff members, tournament officials, sponsors and other entities that are involved with WBSC-sanctioned competitions.