Official betting is wagering on events that are regulated and sanctioned by an official authority. This includes state-licensed sportsbooks and e-sports tournaments. Regulatory authorities set odds for the games they sanction, and players are prohibited from placing bets on unofficially-sanctioned events. This prohibition extends to wagering on events involving amateur teams, as well.
Before the Supreme Court decision legalized sports gambling, the leagues fought it all the way up to the court, and they were trying to keep sports betting basically restricted to Nevada and not really pushed out into the mainstream. But now, with that decision being made, it’s really done a 180 on the stance of the leagues – now they are embracing it, and they’re partnering with sports books and all that.
When you’re ready to start making bets, check out your Illinois sportsbook app’s live and pre-game markets to find the game you want to play. If you have a promo code, enter it to activate any welcome bonuses you may be eligible for. Once you’ve found your first pick, add it to your bet slip and set your wager amount. Keep in mind that some apps offer ongoing bet boosts, which award bonus credits for (often) risky wagers in certain popular leagues. These are smaller than welcome bonuses, but can still add up over time. Also, remember that it’s against MLB rules to seek, offer, or accept a bribe to fix a game. Joseph Sullivan paid eight members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox to do just that, and they were banned from baseball for life as a result.