Official betting is sports wagering that is regulated by the sport’s governing body. It differs from unregulated or black market betting, which are not overseen by any governing bodies and often involve money laundering.

When placing a bet on a sports event, be sure to check out the rules and regulations for each site. Look for a sportsbook that accepts your preferred payment method, and read reviews from other users to see how the site handles payouts. Also, make sure the sportsbook you choose offers the types of bets you like to place.

Most online sportsbooks have multiple betting markets for each game, including money lines, point spreads and totals. These prices are listed on a ticket and change constantly during the course of a game. A bettors’s winnings are determined by the team they have bet on and the difference between the money line and the actual score of the game. In addition, some online bookmakers have dime lines for lower-tier games that aren’t as popular.

Ohio passed legislation legalizing sports betting in December 2021 and Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law shortly thereafter. Retail and online sportsbooks began rolling out in May 2019, with SugarHouse, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, PointsBet and Caesars all available for bettors. Illinois passed a similar bill in 2019 and legalized sports betting in March 2020. The state originally required in-person registration, but that requirement ended on March 5, 2022. It now has a dozen online and retail sportsbooks, including DraftKings, PointsBet, BetMGM and FanDuel.