A sportsbook is a place where people can wager on sporting events. There are many ways to bet, including moneyline bets on which team will win a game, or over/under bets on the total score of a game. Some bettors also like to place props, which are based on specific statistical performance or circumstances in a game. Regardless of the type of bet, a good sportsbook will offer competitive odds and a fair amount of action.
A few key terms to know:
A unit(s): A standard amount of money that a gambler places on a particular game/competition. Unit amounts vary from bettor to bettor, but it is recommended that bettors do not bet beyond their means.
Ticket: A term for a betting slip. A bettor’s wager is recorded on a ticket, which can be scanned or verified with the sportsbook to verify that a bet was placed.
Steam: When one side of a sportsbook’s betting line gains momentum, pushing the odds closer to even. The opposite of this is when the other side of a bet has steam, pushing the odds further away from even.
In addition to the basic betting options, a sportsbook should have a variety of promotions and bonuses for players. These can include deposit matches, free bets, and other similar offers. DraftKings, for example, frequently runs a welcome offer that gives new customers the ability to bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets, regardless of whether their bet wins, loses or pushes.