How to Bet on Sports at a Sportsbook

A sportsbook is a place where people can bet on various sporting events. It can be a brick-and-mortar establishment or an online site.

The sportsbook takes a percentage of the money that bettors win and uses it to cover costs. This is called vigorish or juice, and it’s usually about 10 percent of winnings.

Point-spread bettors know that they need to shop around for the best lines and odds. They also need to bet with a bookie that treats their customers fairly and pays out winnings quickly.

Some sportsbooks offer free bets and bonuses for new customers. These bonuses are a great way to boost your bankroll and test out the waters without risking any money.

If you’re interested in learning how to bet on sports, it’s a good idea to research different betting sites and read user reviews. You’ll want to look for a sportsbook that offers a variety of betting options, accepts deposits via credit cards or e-wallets, and is open 24 hours a day.

Betting on the Over and Under

Unlike point-spread bettors, over/under bettors are more conservative in their betting strategy. This is because they don’t want to be sucked into betting against the spread.

When you bet on the Over, you’re predicting that the team will score more runs or goals than the total amount posted by the sportsbook. On the other hand, when you bet on the Under, you’re predicting that the team won’t score enough points to reach the total posted by the sportsbook.