Official betting is a type of sports wager that’s placed with an operator that has a partnership with the league or team. This partnership allows the book to use league data, logos and branding in its advertising campaigns and live betting products. The benefits of this type of partnership are mutually beneficial and help to increase brand awareness for both the book and the league.
A variety of different types of bets can be made on MLB games, with the majority of bets being placed on money lines and totals. These bets become official at certain points in the game, such as a full-game money line that’s actionable once the teams have exchanged five pitches. Totals bets will also become official once the game has gone through nine innings. However, inning-specific totals are void if the game is called during that inning.
In recent years, a number of high-profile athletes have been suspended from the NFL for placing illegal bets. This is primarily due to the fact that such bets can lead to match-fixing, which is considered an illegal activity under NFL rules. Players found to be betting on their own teams or on other events in the league face suspensions that range from a year to life, depending on the severity of the violation.
In addition to the penalties levied against players who place bets on their own teams, the league also beefed up its integrity efforts by deploying a dedicated team of security personnel and partnering with betting operators and industry integrity firms to create a network that monitors betting markets and flags any improper activity. The NBA has a similar program in which players and league employees are prohibited from betting on any of its teams or properties, including the NBA Summer League, WNBA, G-League and Basketball Africa League.