Official betting refers to the various sports wagering markets that are settled based on official results from governing bodies. These include goal markets, first-half scores and totals. Bets on these markets will be settled as long as the game is played for at least 90 minutes. If a match is postponed or abandoned before the game has started, all bets will be voided unless they have already been settled (such as early goalscorer).
While betting on your favorite team can be fun and exciting, it’s important to remember that you should always bet objectively. Bettors are tempted to place bets based on their bias and emotions, which can lead to mistakes. Ultimately, if you are betting on your favorite team, you need to be able to separate yourself from the outcome and make rational decisions.
In the United States, sports betting has grown rapidly since the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2022. Now, more than 30 states have passed laws enabling sports wagering and the NCAA is taking steps to address the issue of problem gambling among student athletes.
In addition to betting bans, the NCAA has also ruled against certain types of prop bets. For example, a college-age athlete cannot bet on a team whose head coach has ties to illegal gambling operations. This rule prevents students from being enticed by billion-dollar advertising campaigns to gamble irresponsibly, which can have an adverse impact on their academic performance.