What Is a Sportsbook?

A sportsbook accepts bets on sporting events, most commonly football, basketball and baseball. It also offers wagers on MMA, golf, tennis and boxing. Winning bets are paid when the event ends, or if the game is not completed and played long enough to become official, bettors get their money back.

Sportsbooks make their money by charging a percentage of the bets they take, known as juice or vig. This amount is based on the type of sport, the number of bettors and how they place their bets. Sportsbooks are regulated in many jurisdictions, including the United States. They can operate legally in Nevada and other select markets, on gambling cruise ships and through self-serve kiosks at casinos.

In addition to offering a wide range of sports and betting options, online sportsbooks must offer multiple ways for customers to deposit and withdraw money. These include debit cards, eWallets and prepaid cards. It is crucial that a sportsbook offers its customers safe and secure payment methods.

Online sportsbooks are available in a number of jurisdictions, but the US is the largest market for legal sports betting. The country’s most popular sportsbook is FanDuel, which has a 42% market share. Other top online sportsbooks are DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars.