Official betting is a legal form of sports wagering that allows bettors to place bets during the course of a game. This type of betting is available in most states, although rules and regulations vary by state. For example, some states require that bettors be age 21 or older to place a bet, while others limit the number of bets a person can make on a given game.
The NFL and other major sports leagues fought hard against legalized sports betting, fearing it would lead to more attempts at game fixing and other types of tampering. But since SCOTUS overturned the federal ban on sports betting in May 2018, those leagues have done 180-degree turns and are now embracing the practice. They’ve even partnered with sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars Entertainment.
Massachusetts legalized sports betting in 2021 by slipping it into an economic plan that both houses of the legislature and the governor agreed to. The plan acted as an approval for sportsbooks, allowing retail and online options to launch in September of that year. Then, in October of 2021, online sportsbooks went live, with sites like DraftKings, PointsBet, BetRivers, and BetMGM being among the first to open up for business.
Ohio also approved legal sports betting in 2019. The rollout was quick, with retail options opening up in November of that year, and online options launching in January of 2023. The state initially required that bettors register in-person, but this restriction expired on March 5, 2022, and now bettors can use sportsbook apps to register from anywhere in the state.