A sportsbook is a place that takes wagers on different sporting events. A sportsbook accepts bets on both sides of a game and then pays out winning bettors from the money that it collects from losing bettors. This commission is called the vig. The amount of vig varies from sportsbook to sportsbook, but is usually somewhere between 10 and 20% of the total action on a game.

If you want to bet on a game, you can either walk up to the sportsbook ticket window and hand in your cash, or you can give the ticket writer the ID number for the game (usually a 3-digit number to the left of the game) and the type of bet that you’re placing (spread, moneyline, over/under (total), win total, future, etc). The ticket writer will then write down the bet on a paper ticket that will be redeemed for your winnings. Winning bets are paid when the game is over or, if it’s not finished yet, when the event has been played long enough for a result to be declared official.

Besides offering a variety of betting options, sportsbooks also offer bonus offers for bettors. These bonuses can help entice new bettors to sign up and try their luck at the sportsbook. However, it is important to make sure that these bonuses are offered by a legitimate sportsbook before you decide to use them. This will protect you from any scams and unauthorized transactions.