Official betting is the action of placing a wager on an event or competition that has been officially recognized and sanctioned by the sport’s official authority. This includes the podium position in a motor race, a medal ceremony in athletics and other similar official results in all sports. In the United States, legal sports betting is available in several states. Many of the newest sportsbooks have launched recently, while others are changing names and locations as they expand into new markets.
The US Supreme Court ruling in Murphy vs NCAA ushered in the era of legalized sports betting. The decision overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which had prevented state governments from regulating the industry.
New Jersey was one of the first states to pass legislation and launch sports betting. Major sports leagues challenged the move in court, and the lower court sided with them. New Jersey appealed, but the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court decision.
Colorado voters approved legal sports betting in 2020 and began offering the service a year later. In-state residents can place bets at multiple operators, including online options from DraftKings, FanDuel and SugarHouse. There are some restrictions involving in-state college games, however. Players and coaches are prohibited from making player prop bets on collegiate contests.
Kentucky and North Carolina both legalized sports betting in 2023. Both states allow in-person and mobile betting. The Hard Rock Bet app is a rebrand of the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Sportsbook, which had previously been licensed to offer sports betting in several states.