As the sports betting industry continues to grow in popularity, there are a few important things every bettor should know before placing a bet. One of those is that the majority of live in-game wagering is dependent on official data that is provided by the leagues and governing bodies. That data is what the sportsbooks use to determine action on bets and is a major component of the success of any wagering system.

Many different forms of official betting exist, but the most common is the in-game bet on a game’s outcome or total points. This type of bet is only valid if the game goes to its full length. This rule also applies to prop bets, such as the team with the most strikeouts or player with the most total bases on a particular day.

The rules of official betting include a list of “covered persons.” These are any individuals who are directly associated with a team or a league in which the individual participates, as well as their immediate family members and associates. In addition, any professional or collegiate athlete can’t place bets on any event in which they’re participating, even if it’s not part of a WBSC competition.

Some states allow for official betting while others don’t. In the case of those states, it’s usually because of regulations that are imposed by their legislature or the sportsbooks themselves. For example, some legislators require that to-be licensed sportsbooks only use official league data for their in-game wagering. Others, like Illinois and Tennessee, have passed laws that prohibit any type of non-official data.