Form of gambling
Odds boards in a Las Vegas sportsbook
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a💸 wager on the outcome.
Sports bettors place their wagers either legally, through a bookmaker/sportsbook, or illegally through privately run enterprises referred💸 to as "bookies".
The term "book" is a reference to the books used by wage brokers to track wagers, payouts, and💸 debts.
Many legal sportsbooks are found online, operated over the Internet from jurisdictions separate from the clients they serve, usually to💸 get around various gambling laws (such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 in the United States) in💸 select markets, such as Las Vegas, or on gambling cruises through self-serve kiosks.
[1] There are different types of legalized sports💸 betting now such as game betting, parlays props and future bets.
They take bets "up-front", meaning the bettor must pay the💸 sportsbook before placing the bet.
Due to the nature of their business, illegal bookies can operate anywhere but only require money💸 from losing bettors and do not require the wagered money up front, creating the possibility of debt to the bookie💸 from the bettor.
This creates a number of other criminal elements, thus furthering their illegality.
There have been a number of sports💸 betting scandals, affecting the integrity of sports events through various acts including point shaving (players affecting the score by missing💸 shots), spot-fixing (a player action is fixed), bad calls from officials at key moments, and overall match-fixing (the overall result💸 of the event is fixed).
Examples include the 1919 World Series, the alleged (and later admitted) illegal gambling of former baseball💸 player Pete Rose, and former NBA referee Tim Donaghy.
Types of betsUnited States
Betting on the Favorite, an 1870 engraving published in💸 Harper's Weekly
Moneyline bets do not have a spread or handicap, and require the chosen team to win the game outright.
The💸 favored team pays lower odds than does the underdog; thus, it acts mainly as an enticement to take the underdog💸 for a better payout.
Sometimes a bettor may couple this type of bet on the favored team to increase the payout💸 of a parlay.
do not have a spread or handicap, and require the chosen team to win the game outright.
The favored💸 team pays lower odds than does the underdog; thus, it acts mainly as an enticement to take the underdog for💸 a better payout.
Sometimes a bettor may couple this type of bet on the favored team to increase the payout of💸 a parlay.
Spread betting are wagers that are made against the spread.
The spread, or line, is a number assigned by the💸 bookmakers which handicaps one team and favors another when two teams play each other and one is perceived as being💸 more likely to win.
The favorite "gives" points from the final score, and the underdog "takes" points.
This number can also be💸 in increments of half-a-point (.
5) even though very few sports have .5 point scoring (i.e.
, The Ryder Cup), to avoid💸 the possibility of a tie.
For example, before game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat were expected to💸 beat the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The line read: Miami −3.
5, Oklahoma City +3.5.
[2] To determine who wins against the spread, the💸 line is either added or subtracted from a team's final score.
In the above example, if the bettor chose Miami, for💸 him to win his bet, Miami would have to win the game by 4 points or more.
If a bettor took💸 Oklahoma City, they would have to win outright or lose by 3 points or fewer.
If the final adjusted score is💸 a tie, the bet is considered a push.
The half point at the end is sometimes added to eliminate the possibility💸 of a push.
This is the most common type of bet in American sports betting.
Total (Over/Under) bets are wagers made based💸 on the total score between both teams.
In an example, if an MLB game has a total of 10.
5, an over💸 bettor will want the combined total to be greater, and the opposite for a bettor taking the under.
If the combined💸 total is the same as the proposed total, the bet is a push.
Most sports books refund all wagers on pushes,💸 though a minority counts them as losses.
are wagers made based on the total score between both teams.
In an example, if💸 an MLB game has a total of 10.
5, an over bettor will want the combined total to be greater, and💸 the opposite for a bettor taking the under.
If the combined total is the same as the proposed total, the bet💸 is a push.
Most sports books refund all wagers on pushes, though a minority counts them as losses.
Proposition bets are wagers💸 made on a very specific outcome of a match not related to the final score, usually of a statistical nature.
Examples💸 include predicting the number of goals a star player scores in an association football match, betting whether a player will💸 run for a certain number of yards in an American football game, or wagering that a baseball player on one💸 team will accumulate more hits than another player on the opposing team.
are wagers made on a very specific outcome of💸 a match not related to the final score, usually of a statistical nature.
Examples include predicting the number of goals a💸 star player scores in an association football match, betting whether a player will run for a certain number of yards💸 in an American football game, or wagering that a baseball player on one team will accumulate more hits than another💸 player on the opposing team.Parlays.
A parlay involves multiple bets that rewards successful bettors with a greater payout only if all💸 bets in the parlay win.
A parlay is at least two bets, but can be as many as the bookmaker will💸 allow.
The possible payout of the parlay is determined by the combined likelihood of all bets placed.
A parlay of riskier bets💸 (more underdogs) will pay greater than a parlay of more likely bets (more favorites).
In a parlay, all bets need to💸 win in order for the parlay to win.
If one of the bets on a parlay loses, the whole parlay loses.
In💸 the event of a push, the pushed bet would be taken out of the parlay and the parlay would bump💸 down to a set of odds without that bet.
Parlays are very appealing to bettors because they pay out much more💸 than the total winnings of their constituent straight bets.
However, it is much more difficult to hit on a parlay than💸 it is on a single wager.Teasers.
A teaser is a parlay that gives the bettor an advantage at a lower, but💸 still positive, payout if successful.
The bettor selects the sport(s), number of games, and number of points given.
If the bettor takes💸 two NBA games at +6.
5 it will adjust the individual bets at that rate.
So a bet on a 3-point underdog💸 at +3 will become a bet at +9.
5 points, and for favorites, it will change a 3-point favorite at −3💸 to +3.5 points.
Although the rules to win his bet are the same as a parlay, he is paid less than💸 a regular parlay due to the increased odds of winning.If bets .
An if bet consists of at least two straight💸 bets joined by an if clause, which determines the wager process.
If the player's first selection complies with the condition (clause),💸 then the second selection will have action; if the second selection complies with the condition, then the third selection will💸 have action and so on..
An if bet consists of at least two straight bets joined by an if clause, which💸 determines the wager process.
If the player's first selection complies with the condition (clause), then the second selection will have action;💸 if the second selection complies with the condition, then the third selection will have action and so on.
Run line, puck💸 line, or goal line bets .
These are wagers offered as alternatives to money line wagers in baseball, hockey, or soccer,💸 respectively.
These bets are effectively point spread bets that have the same money line odds on either side of the wager💸 (i.e.
industry standard of -110 to -115).
Sportsbooks will occasionally shift the moneyline by a few points on either side of these💸 spread bets..
These are wagers offered as alternatives to money line wagers in baseball, hockey, or soccer, respectively.
These bets are effectively💸 point spread bets that have the same money line odds on either side of the wager (i.e.
industry standard of -110💸 to -115).
Sportsbooks will occasionally shift the moneyline by a few points on either side of these spread bets.Futures wagers.
While all💸 sports wagers are by definition on future events, bets listed as "futures" generally have a long-term horizon measured in weeks💸 or months; for example, a bet that a certain NFL team will win the Super Bowl for the upcoming season.
Such💸 a bet can be made before the season starts in September for the best possible payout, but futures are typically💸 available year-round, with payouts being reduced as the season progresses and it becomes easier to predict a champion.
In this example,💸 winning bets will not pay off until the conclusion of the Super Bowl in January or February (although many of💸 the losing bets will be clear well before then and can be closed out by the book).
Odds for such a💸 bet generally are expressed in a ratio of units paid to unit wagered.
The team wagered upon might be 50–1 (or💸 +5000) to win the Super Bowl, which means that the bet will pay 50 times the amount wagered if the💸 team does so.
In general, most sportsbooks will prefer this type of wager due to the low win-probability, and also the💸 longer period of time in which the house holds the player's money while the bet is pending.
For this same reason,💸 most professional bettors do not prefer to place futures bets.
A sportsbook may choose to buy in-play futures wagers at a💸 price below the actual payout before a championship is decided if the potential payout is very high (and thus, damaging💸 to the sportsbook due to the money that may be lost).
The most recent example of this was when Leicester City💸 pursued and went on to win the 2015/16 Premier League.[3]Head-to-Head .
In these bets, bettor predicts competitors results against each other💸 and not on the overall result of the event.
One example are Formula One races, where you bet on two or💸 three drivers and their placement among the others.
Sometimes you can also bet a "tie", in which one or both drivers💸 either have the same time, drop out, or get disqualified..
In these bets, bettor predicts competitors results against each other and💸 not on the overall result of the event.
One example are Formula One races, where you bet on two or three💸 drivers and their placement among the others.
Sometimes you can also bet a "tie", in which one or both drivers either💸 have the same time, drop out, or get disqualified.Totalizators .
In totalizators (sometimes called flexible-rate bets) the odds are changing in💸 real-time according to the share of total exchange each of the possible outcomes have received taking into account the return💸 rate of the bookmaker offering the bet.
For example: If the bookmakers return percentage is 90%, 90% of the amount placed💸 on the winning result will be given back to bettors and 10% goes to the bookmaker.
Naturally the more money bet💸 on a certain result, the smaller the odds on that outcome become.
This is similar to parimutuel wagering in horse racing💸 and dog racing..
In totalizators (sometimes called flexible-rate bets) the odds are changing in real-time according to the share of total💸 exchange each of the possible outcomes have received taking into account the return rate of the bookmaker offering the bet.
For💸 example: If the bookmakers return percentage is 90%, 90% of the amount placed on the winning result will be given💸 back to bettors and 10% goes to the bookmaker.
Naturally the more money bet on a certain result, the smaller the💸 odds on that outcome become.
This is similar to parimutuel wagering in horse racing and dog racing.Half bets .
A half (halftime)💸 bet applies only to the score of the first or second half.
This bet can be placed on the spread (line)💸 or over/under.
This can also be applied to a specific quarter in American football or basketball, a fewer number of innings💸 in baseball, or a specific period in hockey..
A half (halftime) bet applies only to the score of the first or💸 second half.
This bet can be placed on the spread (line) or over/under.
This can also be applied to a specific quarter💸 in American football or basketball, a fewer number of innings in baseball, or a specific period in hockey.In-play betting.
In-play betting,💸 or live betting, is a fairly new feature offered by some online sports books that enables bettors to place new💸 bets while a sporting event is in progress.
In-play betting first appeared towards the end of the 1990s when some bookmakers💸 would take bets over the telephone whilst a sports event was in progress, and has now evolved into a popular💸 online service in many countries.
[4] The introduction of in-play betting has allowed bookmakers to increase the number of markets available💸 to bet on during sports events, and gamblers are able to place bets based on many types of in-game activity💸 during the matches.
For example, in football matches, it is possible to bet in on in-play markets including the match result,💸 half-time score, number of goals scored in the first or second half of the game, the number of yellow cards💸 during the match, and the name of the goal scorers.
[4] The availability of a particular sport and in-play markets varies💸 from bookmaker to bookmaker.
In-play sports betting has structural characteristics that have changed the mechanics of gambling for sports bettors, as💸 they can now place a larger number of bets during a single sports game (as opposed to a single bet💸 on who is going to win).
One of the most important differences between being able to place an in-running sports bet💸 opposed to a pre-match bet is that the nature of the market has been turned what was previously a discontinuous💸 form of gambling into a continuous one.
The gambling study literature has suggested that in-play sports betting may offer more of💸 a risk to problem gamblers because it allows the option for high-speed continuous betting and requires rapid and impulsive decisions💸 in the absence of time for reflection.
[4] There are three different types of in-play sports betting products(cash out, Edit my💸 Acca, and Edit my Bet).Cash Out .
Cash Out betting functionality lets the user of a betting website take profit early💸 if their bet is coming in, or get some of their stake back if their bet is going against them-all💸 before the event is over.
Cash Out offers are optionally made by the website in real time on some current bets💸 held by the user and are optionally taken by the user by clicking on a button on the webpage to💸 "Cash out".
Cash Out sports betting functionality developed on digital betting websites after 2008 with the evolution of betting exchanges.
It was💸 later adopted by online sports books and suppliers of betting software.
'Cash out' is offered to users by online sportsbook operators💸 based on the profitability of offering the option to the user to divest their existing bet on an outcome and💸 is sometimes available on singles and multiples.
It is regularly offered on a wide range of sports, including American football, tennis,💸 horse racing, basketball, and most other markets.
You can Cash Out of bets pre-play, in-play, and between legs, before the outcome💸 of the event.
It has proved a key customer retention tool for sports book operators looking to capitalize on the use💸 of mobile handsets while the bettor/user is also watching a given event.[4].
Cash Out betting functionality lets the user of a💸 betting website take profit early if their bet is coming in, or get some of their stake back if their💸 bet is going against them-all before the event is over.
Cash Out offers are optionally made by the website in real💸 time on some current bets held by the user and are optionally taken by the user by clicking on a💸 button on the webpage to "Cash out".
Cash Out sports betting functionality developed on digital betting websites after 2008 with the💸 evolution of betting exchanges.
It was later adopted by online sports books and suppliers of betting software.
'Cash out' is offered to💸 users by online sportsbook operators based on the profitability of offering the option to the user to divest their existing💸 bet on an outcome and is sometimes available on singles and multiples.
It is regularly offered on a wide range of💸 sports, including American football, tennis, horse racing, basketball, and most other markets.
You can Cash Out of bets pre-play, in-play, and💸 between legs, before the outcome of the event.
It has proved a key customer retention tool for sports book operators looking💸 to capitalize on the use of mobile handsets while the bettor/user is also watching a given event.Edit My Acca .
This💸 feature allows gamblers to remove selections from their accumulator after the bet has been placed and in some instances after💸 the selected event has started.
The betting slip is then revised to feature the amended selections and a new potential return💸 amount.
This can be done online or via a mobile device.[4].
This feature allows gamblers to remove selections from their accumulator after💸 the bet has been placed and in some instances after the selected event has started.
The betting slip is then revised💸 to feature the amended selections and a new potential return amount.
This can be done online or via a mobile device.Edit💸 My Bet.
The 'edit bet' feature can be used by gamblers to 'unsettle straight accumulators' before matches have started or whilst💸 they are in-play.
The feature can also be used for to swap single bets for new bets, and the gambler is💸 given a new bet selection valued at the bookie's cash out price to reflect live market/game odds for the original💸 bet.[4]Bookmaking
The bookmaker functions as a market maker for sports wagers, most of which have a binary outcome: a team either💸 wins or loses.
The bookmaker accepts both wagers, and maintains a spread (the vigorish) which will ensure a profit regardless of💸 the outcome of the wager.
The Federal Wire Act of 1961 was an attempt by the US government to prevent illegal💸 bookmaking.
[5] However, this Act does not apply to other types of online gambling.
[6] The Supreme Court has not ruled on💸 the meaning of the Federal Wire Act as it pertains to online gambling.
Bookmakers usually hold an 11–10 advantage over their💸 customers-for small wagers it is closer to a 6–5 advantage-so the bookmaker will most likely survive over the long term.
Successful💸 bookmakers must be able to withstand a large short term loss.(Boyd, 1981)
Many of the leading gambling bookmakers from the 1930s💸 to the 1960s got their start during the prohibition era of the 1920s.
They were often descendants of the influx of💸 immigrants coming into the US at this time.
Although the common stereotype is that these bookies were of Italian descent, many💸 leading bookies were of eastern European ancestry.[7]Odds
Odds for different outcomes in single bet are presented either in European format (decimal💸 odds), UK format (fractional odds), or American format (money line odds).
European format (decimal odds) are used in continental Europe, Canada,💸 and Australia.
They are the ratio of the full payout to the stake, in a decimal format.Decimal odds of 2.00 are💸 an even bet.
UK format (fractional odds) are used by British bookmakers.
They are the ratio of the amount won to the💸 stake – the solidus "/" is pronounced "to" for example 7/1 "seven to one".
Fractional odds of 1/1 are an even💸 bet.
US format odds are the amount won on a 100 stake when positive, and the stake needed to win 100💸 when negative.
US odds of 100 are an even bet.
Decimal Fractional US Hong Kong Indo Malay Implied probability 1.50 1/2 −200💸 0.50 −2.00 0.50 1 in 1.5 = 67% 2.
00 Evens (1/1) +100 1.00 1.00 1.00 1 in 2 = 50%💸 2.50 6/4 +150 1.50 1.50 −0.67 1 in 2.5 = 40% 3.00 2/1 +200 2.00 2.00 −0.50 1 in 3💸 = 33%
Conversion formulas x To Do this Decimal Fractional x-1, then convert to fraction Decimal US 100*(x-1) if x>2; -100/(x-1)💸 if x<2 Fractional Decimal divide fraction, then x+1 Fractional US divide fraction, then 100*x if x>=1; -100/x if x<1 US💸 Decimal (x/100)+1 if x>0; (−100/x)+1 if x<0 US Fractional x/100, if x>0; -100/x, if x<0 Decimal Hong Kong x-1 Hong💸 Kong Indo x if x>=1; (1/x)*-1 if x<1 Hong Kong Malay x if x<=1; (1/x)*-1 if x>1
In Asian betting markets,💸 other frequently used formats for expressing odds include Hong Kong, Malaysian, and Indonesian-style odds formats.
Odds are also quite often expressed💸 in terms of implied probability, which corresponds to the probability with which the event in question would need to occur💸 for the bet to be a break-even proposition (on the average).
Many online tools also exist for automated conversion between these💸 odds formats.
In setting odds, the bookmaker is subject to a number of limitations:[8]
The probability implied by the odds should be💸 greater than the true probability for each possible outcome to guarantee positive expected profit.
If the wagers on each outcome are💸 made in ratio to the implied odds, then the bookmaker is guaranteed a profit (balanced book).
Legality
In many countries, bookmaking (the💸 profession of accepting sports wagers) is regulated but not criminalized.
The opinions of betting from sport authorities are mixed.
The United States💸 National Football League was previously fully against any sort of legalization of sports betting prior to the late 2010s, strongly💸 protesting it as to not bring corruption into the game.
[citation needed] On the other hand, the CEO of the International💸 Cricket Council believe sports betting, in particular in India, should be legalized to curb illegal bookies where match fixing has💸 occurred from nontransparent bookmakers.
[citation needed] According to the Law Commission of India, all forms of gambling are illegal.
Online sports betting💸 is a gray area and is not banned by any particular law in the Indian legal system.
That is because specific💸 provisions distinguish between games of chance and games of skill.
[citation needed]United States
Map of sports betting legality as of October 15,💸 2021[9]
Sports betting legal Sports betting illegal Kentucky has since legalized sports betting, with betting to go live no later than💸 December 28, 2023.[10]
In the United States, it was previously illegal under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992💸 (PASPA) for states to authorize legal sports betting, hence making it effectively illegal.
The states of Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon-which💸 had pre-existing sports lotteries and sports betting frameworks, were grandfathered in and exempted from the effects of the Act.
[11][12] PASPA💸 was struck down by the Supreme Court in Murphy v.
National Collegiate Athletic Association in 2018, paving the way for other💸 states to legalize sports betting.
In May 2020, it was reported that since the Supreme Court's PASPA decision, over $20 billion💸 had been spent on sports betting in the United States.
[13] As of May 2022, 30 states and Washington, D.C.
have operational💸 legalized sports betting, while an additional four states have legalized it, but have not yet launched legal sportsbooks.[9]
Positions of American💸 professional sports leagues
The positions of the four major American sports leagues (representing American football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey) have💸 become more complex since their decision to embrace daily fantasy sports (DFS) in 2014, which are described by those within💸 the industry as "almost identical to a casino" in nature.
With the contention by critics that such activities blur the lines💸 between gambling and fantasy sports, the endorsement of all four major sports leagues and many individual franchises provided a marked💸 contrast to their positions on betting.
[14] Professional sports leagues updated their positions again on May 14, 2018, when the Supreme💸 Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA).
NBA
While the National Basketball Association💸 (NBA) was once active in preventing sports betting law relaxation, current NBA Commissioner Adam Silver became the first major sports💸 leader to break from previous administrative opposition to gambling.
In 2014 he stated in a New York Times op-ed, "I believe💸 that sports betting should be brought out of the underground and into the sunlight where it can be appropriately monitored💸 and regulated.
"[15] In 2017, with support for legalization growing, he confirmed his belief that "legalized sports betting is inevitable".[16]
Silver released💸 the following statement following the Supreme Court's overturning of PASPA: "Today's decision by the Supreme Court opens the door for💸 states to pass laws legalizing sports betting.
We remain in favor of a federal framework that would provide a uniform approach💸 to sports gambling in states that choose to permit it, but we will remain active in ongoing discussions with state💸 legislatures.
Regardless of the particulars of any future sports betting law, the integrity of our game remains our highest priority."[17]MLB
Major League💸 Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred has also advocated the league changing its stance on sports betting, with both Manfred and💸 Silver noting that the scale of illegal sports betting makes opposition to betting meaningless.
He also stated a willingness to "try💸 to shape" any future legislation at federal level.
This was noted as a marked contrast to former Commissioner of the MLB💸 Bud Selig, with Manfred going beyond tacit approval and stating, "There is this buzz out there in terms of people💸 feeling that there may be an opportunity here for additional legalized sports betting."[18]
MLB released the following statement when the Supreme💸 Court overturned PASPA: "Today's decision by the United States Supreme Court will have profound effects on Major League Baseball.
As each💸 state considers whether to allow sports betting, we will continue to seek the proper protections for our sport, in partnership💸 with other professional sports.
Our most important priority is protecting the integrity of our games.
We will continue to support legislation that💸 creates air-tight coordination and partnerships between the state, the casino operators and the governing bodies in sports toward that goal."[19]
In💸 April 2022, league-owned television channel MLB Network launched Pregame Spread, a weekday afternoon show hosted by Matt Vasgersian dedicated to💸 analysis of betting lines and other aspects of sports gambling.[20]NFL
The National Football League (NFL) remains the only sports league to💸 maintain public opposition to sports betting, however critics have noted that with the move of the Oakland Raiders to Las💸 Vegas in 2019, the NFL has positioned itself for legalization, while simultaneously contradicting its long-held position that sports betting in💸 NFL markets would lead to potential match-fixing.
[21] Commissioner Roger Goodell agreed with Manfred in a July 2017 seminar that betting💸 on in-game events, as opposed to the outcome of games, was a more palatable form of sports betting.[22]
Like the NBA💸 and MLB, the NFL issued a statement on May 14, 2018.
It emphasized the league's commitment to protecting the integrity of💸 the game: "The NFL's long-standing and unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our game remains absolute.
" Moreover, the NFL💸 called on Congress to craft a Federal framework for regulated sports betting.
"Congress has long recognized the potential harms posed by💸 sports betting to the integrity of sporting contests and the public confidence in these events.
Given that history, we intend to💸 call on Congress again, this time to enact a core regulatory framework for legalized sports betting."[23]NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL)💸 has not stated a public position for or against sports betting, with Commissioner Gary Bettman noting that they are smaller💸 than the NBA and NFL and less vulnerable to negative issues as a result.
The NHL was the first major professional💸 league to place a team in Nevada, when the expansion Vegas Golden Knights took the ice in 2017: since then💸 the league has signed sponsorship agreements with William Hill and MGM Resorts International that include betting partnerships and access to💸 in-play data.
Other clubs in states with legal sports gambling, such as the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers, also have💸 similar sponsorships with bookmakers.
Following other US professional sports leagues, the NHL acknowledged the Supreme Court's PASPA decision with an internal💸 review of its policies.
"The Supreme Court's decision today paves the way to an entirely different landscape – one in which💸 we have not previously operated.
We will review our current practices and policies and decide whether adjustments are needed, and if💸 so, what those adjustments will look like.
It's important to emphasize that the Supreme Court's decision has no immediate impact on💸 existing League rules relating to sports wagering, and particularly, wagering involving NHL games."[24]Other leagues
Major League Soccer (MLS) the top soccer💸 league in the United States and Canada has expressed sports betting as a possible way to gain popularity.
Commissioner Don Garber💸 has stated about sports gambling, " We have a project going on now to really dig in deeply and understand💸 it.
I'll join the chorus of saying it's time to bring it out of the dark ages.
We're doing what we can💸 to figure out how to manage that effectively."[25]
The Alliance of American Football and XFL have both publicly endorsed gambling on💸 their games, with the AAF securing a partnership with MGM Resorts International[26] and the XFL partnering with DraftKings.[27]
Advocacy and lobbying
The💸 American Gaming Association stated in June 2017, that a coalition will advocate for the repeal of the United States' sports💸 betting ban.[28]
In February 2018, a lobbying document surfaced advocating a new position held by the NBA and MLB – that💸 sports leagues should be financially compensated for betting activity.[29]
Position of American NCAA
Perhaps the most extreme ban on sports betting is💸 imposed by the NCAA, the main governing body for U.S.college sports.
The NCAA reified their position in the wake of various💸 betting scandals, including the 1992 University of Nevada, Las Vegas and 1994 Arizona State University Point shaving scandals.
[30][31] As states💸 began legalizing sports betting in the late 2010s, the NCAA signaled a shift in tone.
In 2017, then-NCAA President Mark Emmert💸 talked about Las Vegas possibly hosting the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in the future.[32]
Emmert acknowledged the Supreme Court's💸 overturn of PASPA on May 14, 2018,[33][34] restating the NCAA's strong commitment to competition and its student-athletes.
"Our highest priorities in💸 any conversation about sports wagering are maintaining the integrity of competition and student-athlete well-being.
" Emmert also emphasized the importance of💸 proper federal regulation.
"While we recognize the critical role of state governments, strong federal standards are necessary to safeguard the integrity💸 of college sports and the athletes who play these games at all levels."[35]
Three days after the Supreme Court ruling, the💸 NCAA suspended its policy prohibiting championship events from being held in states with legal sports betting.
The policy was fully rescinded💸 in May 2019.
In October 2020, Las Vegas was awarded the West Regional of the 2023 Division I men's basketball tournament;💸 the Frozen Four, the final phase of the Division I men's hockey tournament, in 2026; and the men's basketball Final💸 Four in 2028.[36]
As of the 2021–22 school year, the official manuals for all three NCAA divisions still expressly ban a💸 member institution's athletic department staff, non-athletic staff with responsibilities related to athletic activities, athletic conference staff, and student athletes from💸 knowingly participating in sports wagering activities.[37][38][39]
This ban covers all competitions, whether intercollegiate, amateur, or professional, as well as team practices,💸 in any sport in which the NCAA conducts a championship, plus Division I FBS football (whose championships have never been💸 operated by the NCAA) and all sports within the scope of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
[40] The only💸 exception is traditional wagers between institutions, most commonly associated with rivalries or bowl games; according to the NCAA, "items wagered💸 must be representative of the involved institutions or the states in which they are located."[41]
The NCAA maintains that "Sports wagering💸 has the potential to undermine the integrity of sports contests and jeopardizes the well-being of student-athletes and the intercollegiate athletics💸 community.
It also demeans the competition and competitors alike by spreading a message that is contrary to the purpose and meaning💸 of 'sport.'"[42]
Positions of other sports leagues and governing bodies
Premier League kit of West Ham United sponsorship by Betway
The Football Association,💸 the governing body for association football in England, has imposed football betting bans on all individuals involved in the sport-players,💸 managers, match officials, and club staff.
The scope of these bans varies based on level of the English football pyramid.[43][44]
The following💸 individuals are banned from betting on any football-related matter worldwide, or providing inside information to any individual who can reasonably💸 be assumed to use said information for betting purposes:
All players, managers, and club staff associated with any club occupying any💸 of the top eight levels of the men's league system (the Premier League, English Football League, and the top four💸 levels of the National League system) or the top two levels of the women's league system (the Women's Super League💸 and Women's Championship).
All match officials, plus coaches and assessors thereof, who operate at Level 3 or above in the FA's💸 referee classification system.
Individuals who are associated at clubs at lower levels of the men's or women's league systems, plus match💸 officials at FA Level 4 or below, are only banned with respect to the match or competition in which they💸 are involved or can influence, and also to the league in which they participate.
All individuals are banned from advertising or💸 promoting any football betting activity in which FA regulations prohibit them from engaging.
This, however, only applies to individuals in their💸 personal capacities.
For example, if a club is sponsored by a betting company and said company places its logo on the💸 club's kit, the team's players are not in violation of the betting rules.
International baseball and softball
The World Baseball Softball Confederation,💸 the international governing body for baseball and softball, has betting rules similar to those of Major League Baseball.
Participants in any💸 WBSC-sanctioned event are banned from betting on the following:[45]
Any WBSC competition in which they are participating.
Any event in the participant's💸 sport, even if not directly governed by WBSC.
For example: An individual involved with a national baseball team cannot bet on💸 a Major League Baseball game.
However, someone involved solely with a national softball team can bet on an MLB game.
Any event💸 in any multisport competition in which an individual is participating.
For example, an Olympic baseball or softball player cannot bet on💸 any Olympic event taking place at that specific Summer Olympics.
The WBSC statutes define "participant" as any player, team staff member💸 (including coaches/managers), tournament official (such as umpires and official scorers), or anyone in an ownership, executive, or staff role within💸 any entity that organizes or promotes a WBSC-sanctioned event.
The betting ban, as in the case of The FA's rules outlined💸 above, also extends to providing inside information that the tipper could reasonably believe will be used to bet on a💸 WBSC event.
Cricket
The International Cricket Council imposes a blanket ban on what it calls "corrupt conduct" by anyone it defines as💸 a "participant".[46]
Under the ICC anti-corruption statutes, a "participant" is defined as:
Anyone who has been selected to play in any international💸 or domestic match that falls under the jurisdiction of any national cricket federation [a] within the previous 24 months (defined💸 by the ICC as a "player").
within the previous 24 months (defined by the ICC as a "player").
Anyone who "is employed💸 by, represents or is otherwise affiliated to" any international or domestic team falling under the jurisdiction of any national federation💸 (defined by the ICC as "player support personnel").
Those who have served in such a role in the past remain subject💸 to the code for 24 months after the end of their term.
Any cricketer or player support staffer who is currently💸 under a ban imposed for violations of the ICC anti-corruption code, or the equivalent code of any national federation.
Any ICC💸 administrative official, match referee, pitch curator (groundskeeper), player agent, umpire, or umpire support staffer.
The ICC shares anti-corruption jurisdiction with national💸 cricket federations, all of which have anti-corruption rules substantially identical to those of the ICC.
The ICC has elaborate mechanisms for💸 determining whether it or a national federation will take action under the relevant anti-corruption code.
In general, the ICC has either💸 exclusive or priority jurisdiction over international matches, while national federations have responsibility for actions relating only to domestic matches.
The ICC💸 code bans the following activities with regard to any international match, whether or not the participant had any involvement in💸 said match, or any possible means of influencing the outcome:
Any attempted or actual match fixing, including spot-fixing (i.e.
, manipulating a💸 specific event within a match).
However, manipulation of international matches strictly for strategic or tactical reasons is specifically excluded from the💸 anti-corruption code.
Such actions instead constitute violations of the ICC's code of conduct.
Seeking, offering, accepting, or agreeing to accept a bribe💸 to fix a match or event within a match.
Betting on any match, or on any event within a match.
Soliciting such💸 a bet is also banned.
Misuse of inside information that could reasonably be used for betting purposes.
Providing any benefits for the💸 purpose of violating the code.
Failing to report any attempted violation of the code by another individual, once the subject has💸 become aware of it.
Famous betting scandalsJoseph J.
"Sport" Sullivan was an American bookmaker and gambler from Boston, Massachusetts who helped to💸 initiate the 1919 Black Sox Scandal.
In 1919, the Chicago White Sox faced the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
This series💸 would go down as one of the biggest sports scandals of all time.
As the story goes, professional gambler Joseph Sullivan💸 paid eight members of the White Sox (Oscar Felsch, Arnold Gandil, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Fred McMullin, Charles Risberg, George Weaver,💸 and Claude Williams) around 10,000 dollars each to fix the World Series.
All eight players were banned from playing professional baseball💸 for the rest of their lives.
[47] Pete Rose, the all-time MLB leader in hits, was similarly banned from baseball in💸 1989 for betting on games while he was an MLB manager.
The rule against gambling in baseball is known as "Rule💸 21", which is publicly posted on dugout walls and states: "Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee,💸 who shall bet any sum whatsoever on any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to💸 perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.
" People permanently banned from Major League Baseball are also forever banned from entry into💸 the Baseball Hall of Fame, although most such people have been reinstated a few years later by a later Commissioner💸 of Baseball.
For instance, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were both banned from baseball in 1983 after taking jobs as casino💸 greeters (which would have expelled them from the Hall of Fame had it been allowed to stand); they were reinstated💸 two years later.
Only Rose has yet to be reinstated.
A 1906 betting scandal between the Massillon Tigers and Canton Bulldogs, two💸 of the top teams in professional American football in the early 1900s, led to the demise of "big-money" professional football💸 for several years.
Modern research has suggested that the claims of betting were unsubstantiated.
On December 7, 1980, the San Francisco 49ers💸 overcame a halftime deficit of 28 points in what became the greatest regular season comeback victory in NFL regular season💸 history.
By the beginning of the third quarter, notorious Vegas bookmaker Frank Rosenthal received forfeiture notices from 246 San Francisco bettors💸 totaling more than $25,000 in premature winnings.
Rosenthal was able to retain these winnings despite the outcome of the game due💸 to gambling regulations previously established by the NAGRA.[48]
The Cronje Affair was an India-South Africa Cricket match fixing scandal that went💸 public in 2000.
[49][50] It began in 1996 when the-then captain of the South African national cricket team, Hansie Cronje, was💸 convinced by Mukesh "John" Gupta, an Indian bookmaker, to throw a match during a Test in Kanpur, India.
The scheme was💸 discovered when Delhi police recorded illegal dealings between Indian bookmaker Sanjay Chawla and Cronje.
According to the Telegraph in 2010, Cronje💸 was paid off a total of £65,000 from Gupta.[51]
Corruption in tennis has been long considered as issue.
[52] In 2011, the💸 former world No.
55 Austrian tennis player, Daniel Köllerer, became the first tennis player to be banned for life for attempting💸 to fix matches.
The violations were outstanding between October 2009 and July 2010 after The Tennis Integrity Units had launched an💸 investigation on behalf of the International Tennis Federation and the ATP and WTA tours.
In 2004 and 2006, Koellerer was banned💸 for six months due to his bad behavior.
In addition, in August 2010, he facilitated betting by placing odds for matches💸 and had links for placing bets.[53]
Machine learning in sports betting
Machine learning models can make predictions in real time based on💸 data from numerous disparate sources, such as player performance, weather, fan sentiment, etc.
Some models have shown accuracy slightly higher than💸 domain experts.
[54] These models require a large amount of data that is comparable and well organized prior to analysis, which💸 makes them particularly well suited to predicting the outcome of Esports matches, where large amounts of well structured data is💸 available.
[55]See alsoReferencesBibliographyBoyd, Kier (1981).
Gambling Technology Washington, D.C.: FBI LaboratoryWashington, D.C.
: FBI Laboratory Davies, Richard (2001).
Betting the Line Columbus, Ohio: The💸 Ohio State University Press ISBN 0-8142-0880-0
Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio State University Press ISBN 0-8142-0880-0 Finley, Peter (2008).
Sports Scandals Westport, Connecticut:💸 Greenwood Press ISBN 978-0-313-34458-9
Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press ISBN 978-0-313-34458-9 Rose, Pete (2004).
My Prison Without Bars St.
Martin's Press ISBN 1-57954-927-6St.
Martin's Press💸 ISBN 1-57954-927-6 Thompson, William (2001).
Gambling in America-An Encyclopedia of History, Issues, and Society Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO ISBN 1-57607-159-6
Media related💸 to Sports betting at Wikimedia Commons
