Despite the fact that the majority of states have now legalized sports betting, not all of them are doing so at the same pace. Those that haven’t yet are still navigating the legislative process, and that will take time. “We’ll see more [legislative action] this year, but it will take some time for new markets to get up and running,” says Clark.
All wagers on baseball games are based on money odds, meaning that a winning selection will pay out depending on the odds it was taken at when the bet was placed. The odds are displayed on the electronic wagering display and wagering sheets and are either plus (+) or minus (-). When bets are made on game outcomes, they are not settled until all scheduled games in that series are official. For bets on series that include the playoffs or the World Series, all scheduled playoff and/or tournament games must be completed for bets to have action unless otherwise stated.
In the case of head to head player props, both players must be in the starting lineup and the game must be official for bets to have action. For all other live props, the relevant full or half inning must have occurred for bets to have action unless stated.
The rules governing official betting are identical to those for all other MLB markets. In addition, MLB is committed to responsible gaming and works with the American Gaming Association’s Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly. public service campaign to educate fans and broaden the league’s responsible gaming efforts.