In order to be considered official betting, a wager must use data provided by the league that governs a sport. This data includes statistics, results and other information that is updated by the sports league throughout the game. The data is used to determine the outcome of the wager. This type of betting is legal in many states and is regulated by state laws.

Bettors can make a variety of bets during an MLB game, including money line bets, spread bets and totals. Those who want to increase their odds of winning can place bets on multiple outcomes at once by combining them into a parlay. However, it is important to understand how each type of bet works before making a bet.

A money line bet is the price that a bookmaker offers for a team to win a game. This number changes constantly, so bettors should always check the odds before placing a bet. Spread bets are based on the expected margin of victory and the amount of points the favorite team must win by in order to cover the point spread. These bets are typically higher risk and reward than traditional straight bets.

In order for a bet to be considered official, it must be placed before the end of the game. This is to ensure the integrity of the game and protect against cheating or insider information. Additionally, any bet on a specific outcome must be officially announced before the bet is accepted or paid. Exceptions may be made if the outcome of a game is affected by weather conditions. In the case of player props, bets will become official if the player meets a minimum appearance requirement set by the sportsbook (usually one pitch thrown for pitchers and one plate appearance for position players).