Official betting is a term that refers to a sports wager that relies on official league data. This data is typically sourced from the teams themselves, or directly from the players’ performance metrics. While some experts disagree, others believe that using official data can increase the integrity of a bet.
The idea of empowering the leagues to control data flow first appeared in a lobbying document circulated by the NBA and MLB in February 2018, three months before the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA. Tennessee is the only state to include such a data mandate in its sports betting law, but other proposals have failed to make it past committees and into legislation.
Professional bettors are experts at evaluating each team and player. They watch countless hours of game film, look for each team’s strengths and weaknesses, read local team beat reporters and are constantly looking for any information that can give them an edge against the competition. They also have an in-depth understanding of the rules, scoring systems and overall game strategy.
Most professional sports teams have policies against gambling by their employees and players. These rules usually prohibit betting on pro, college or amateur sporting events that are sponsored by the league. Some exceptions may be made if the event is considered a “push” (e.g. a baseball game that ends in a tie). Players are also required to sign a statement acknowledging these rules. This is typically included in their contract, which must be signed before they can play for any team.