A pivotal Supreme Court decision in 2018 opened the door for states to legalize sports betting. Now, 34 states plus the District of Columbia offer some form of legal sports wagering, either in person or online.
Aside from the basic point spread, there are also parlays and prop bets. A parlay is a combination of multiple bets that must all win to earn a payout, while a prop bet is a bet on specific events that don’t have anything to do with the final outcome of a game (such as which team will score first).
The NBA has partnered with DraftKings and FanDuel on best-in-class practices to protect the integrity of its games, including sports betting-related data analytics. The league has a number of educational programs, social media messaging and public service announcements in place to help players understand the risks involved.
When placing a bet, it’s important to remove your bias from the selection process. That’s especially true when betting on your own favorite team. Having the ability to step away from your own personal emotions can make a big difference in your winnings.
Brett Koenig lives 45 minutes from his home in suburban St. Louis, but when he pulls out his smartphone and opens a sports betting app, he’s blocked by a pop-up message that says Missouri is not a legal gambling location. Koenig, who has launched a social media campaign called “Let MO Play,” wants to see sports wagering become legal in his state.