Official betting is the activity of placing a wager on a game or event at a regulated sportsbook. It’s a form of gambling that is legal in many states, and has the benefit of being overseen by gaming regulators to ensure fairness, integrity and security.
The Supreme Court’s decision struck down PASPA in 2022, allowing individual states to establish their own sports betting laws. Since then, more than 40 states have opened regulated sportsbooks. In fact, more Americans live in jurisdictions that offer regulated sportsbooks than ever before.
Pennsylvania moved quickly after the Supreme Court ruling, launching retail sportsbooks in November 2018. Online sportsbooks launched in May 2019. SugarHouse is one of the state’s leading books, along with DraftKings and BetRivers.
Illinois passed legislation to allow sports betting in 2019 and it went live with both retail and online options in March 2020. Initially, the state required in-person registration for online and mobile sports betting, but this requirement expired in 2022. You can now sign up from anywhere in the state to use sportsbook apps like DraftKings, BetMGM and PointsBet.
Athletes are allowed to bet on non-NFL events at licensed sportsbooks, but they’re prohibited from placing bets while at team or league facilities or on the road with their teams. They must also sign a statement acknowledging the rules governing gambling as part of their CBA contracts. Any players caught violating these rules face a minimum one-year ban. The NFL has enhanced its enforcement efforts, partnering with regulators, sportsbooks and independent integrity firms to monitor betting patterns and identify offenders.