Official betting is a form of wagering in which the results of a sporting event are determined by a set of rules established by the sportsbook. The rules include how the odds on a particular team or player are determined and whether or not players or coaches can place bets while they’re at work. In addition, the rules may also cover whether or not a player can bet on his own team while in uniform.
After the Supreme Court ruling, states across the country rushed to get sports betting up and running. West Virginia was one of the first, launching retail options in September 2018, followed by online sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel a month later.
New Jersey was another early adopter, legalizing sports betting in 2019. The state launched retail and online sportsbooks in June with DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, and Caesars all available as options. New Hampshire joined the party in December 2019 by allowing retail sportsbooks at commercial and tribal casinos. Online sportsbooks like DraftKings, BetMGM, and PointsBet went live a few months later.
The NFL was a major holdout, but it did eventually come on board — partnering with DraftKings and FanDuel and allowing those companies to put their own odds and lines out there. ESPN’s David Purdum tells us how the decision has changed things.