Official betting is a form of sports wagering that is regulated by the state in which it takes place. It is offered at licensed sportsbooks and includes a variety of bet types, including money lines, spreads, totals and parlays. In addition, bettors can make wagers on individual plays in a game, such as whether a player will hit a home run.
Despite the popularity of these wagers, it is important to understand how odds work before placing a bet. The odds for a particular event are constantly changing and it is crucial to check them regularly to ensure that you are receiving the best possible price. In addition, bettors should monitor injury reports to avoid making bets that will not be paid out.
In order to be considered official betting, a bet must use data that is provided by the league. The concept of requiring official data first appeared in lobbying documents circulated by MLB and the NBA in 2018, just months before SCOTUS struck down PASPA. While the American Gaming Association supports private commercial agreements to provide official data, it opposes legislative mandates that require it be used in grading bets.
In baseball, official bets include over/under totals and player props. The over/under is a bet on the total number of runs scored in a game and the player props are based on statistical categories, such as batting average, home runs and RBIs. Generally, player props are subject to a minimum appearance requirement, which is usually one pitch thrown for pitchers and a plate appearance for position players.