As legal sports betting becomes more common, the NCAA is concerned about its impacts on student-athletes. A recent NCAA survey found that half of 18- to 22-year-olds reported having bet on a sporting event during the previous year. The NCAA is seeking a way to control the impact of sports betting while also protecting student-athletes.
The basic idea behind official betting is that you bet on the outcome of a game, with your winnings determined by whether you are right or wrong about the game’s final score. If you bet that the total number of points scored will be more than 47, for example, you should place a wager on the Over. If you bet that the total will be less than 47, you should place a wager on the Under. You can also place first-quarter and halftime Over/Under bets.
When placing a bet, remember to be fully informed about the teams and their players. A common mistake made by novice bettors is to make uninformed bets on their favorite team because they think it will make the game more exciting for them. However, this will often have the opposite effect.
New York launched legal sports betting in 2019, with retail and online options at commercial and tribal casinos. The state’s sportsbook licensees include Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers. Ohio lawmakers passed a sports betting bill in December 2021, and the state’s online sportsbooks launched on Jan. 1, 2023.