Official betting is sports wagering that is based on data provided by a league or other governing body. It’s a popular way to make wagers on favorite teams and players. It’s also the subject of a major legal battle in states that have made sports betting legal.

Bettors can place a variety of bets on games, including over/under totals and money line bets. Over/Under bets are based on the number of combined runs scored in a game. They can be placed on either team or individual players, and all runs scored in extra innings count toward a game’s total. A game must be official for over/under bets to pay, although some sportsbooks will honor a bet if the result is shortened or suspended for weather or other reasons.

Some professional sports teams have anti-betting rules. For example, the NHL prohibits its teams from taking bets or participating in postgame press conferences with players or coaches who have taken bets on their team or players. However, some states have relaxed these rules to allow players to bet on their own team or players. In addition, the World Baseball Classic Championship (WBSC) prohibits bettors from participating in its events. This is to prevent betting on the event and its players from being influenced by team officials or others. The WBSC’s rule also includes a penalty of a lifetime ban on any person who attempts to influence the outcome of a game with inside information.