A sports betting bet is placing a wager on an outcome of a game or event. It is also known as a wager on the spread or total. The odds of a team winning or losing are calculated by taking into account the moneyline and over/under lines, as well as other factors such as home field advantage and the quality of the opposing team’s starting pitcher. The resulting odds are published by the bookmaker and are used for bets placed by customers.
The NHL was the first major league to move into Nevada, with the Vegas Golden Knights kicking off a new era of sports gambling in the Silver State in 2017. Unlike the NBA and NFL, however, the NHL has not taken a public position on the issue of legal sports betting.
While the majority of the United States currently has some form of legal USA sports betting, the laws vary by state. Some have no online betting, while others have a complicated process for getting started. A key factor in regulating this market has been a Supreme Court ruling that gives individual states the power to regulate it as they see fit.
Connecticut: The Nutmeg State launched its betting site in 2021, allowing both in-person and online sports wagering. It has since expanded to include multiple major casinos and a large number of retail sportsbooks. The state has a unique system that requires players to register at a casino to bet, which some have complained about.
Nevada: This is the gambling capital of the world, and it’s no surprise that Nevada has the most regulated US sports betting market. Its initial launch was a bit rocky, but the state has managed to stabilize its operations and add more options. As of early 2023, Nevada offers 14 online betting platforms and more than 170 retail sportsbooks.
Kentucky: The Bluegrass State is another state that has legalized sports betting. Its online betting site went live in 2020 and the state’s first brick-and-mortar sportsbook opened in 2021. The state is not yet accepting mobile bets, but that’s expected to change in 2023. It prohibits bets on in-state collegiate teams.
California: In-person and mobile sports betting are both legal in the Golden State. The state is currently preparing for two competing referendums, one backed by the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel, and the other by California’s tribal casinos. A vote is scheduled for fall of 2022, and both proposals are longshots to pass.
There is a lot to keep in mind when betting on sports events, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the terminology and rules that are specific to each sport you’re interested in. The terms used for each sport can differ, but many of the basic principles are similar across all betting systems. For example, a “winner” bet is a straight bet on the winner of a game, while a “money line” bet is a wager that the favorite will win by a certain amount.