Official betting is a form of gambling that is highly regulated at the state level. It is also a popular way to place wagers on the outcome of sports events. Sportsbooks offer a variety of different betting options, including moneyline bets, over/under bets, and prop bets. In addition, many of these sites offer new player bonuses and promotions to attract customers.

PURDUM: I think the leagues initially thought it was going to be a problem because they believed that legalization would open the door to more attempts at game-fixing – compromising games for gambling purposes. They were worried that it would be harder to monitor, too, because now there are more betting outlets.

After a lengthy campaign, California voters reject two propositions that would have made sports betting legal in the state. Despite the setback, several operators still allow sports bets online in California and the first official state-licensed sportsbook went live in July 2021. However, betting on in-state collegiate teams is prohibited.

Massachusetts is currently the capital of daily fantasy sports (DFS) in the US, with Boston being home to industry giant DraftKings. However, the city is well-positioned to become a major hub for sports betting as well. It’s worth noting that there are no retail sportsbooks in the state, but eight online sportsbooks launched on March 10 – including DraftKings, FanDuel, WynnBET, Betr, Caesars, and Fanatics. Several more could launch in the months ahead. For more information, check out our detailed review of the Massachusetts sportsbooks.