Betting online is a convenient way to make sports wagers from anywhere. All you need is a computer or mobile device and an internet connection. The best betting sites offer competitive odds and a variety of different bet types. Betting lines are updated constantly to reflect the latest information, and they change as the game progresses. You can also bet on Over/Under totals, which are the total points, goals, or runs scored in a game. Some sportsbooks also set totals for halves and quarters. Another popular bet type is head-to-head matchups, which pit two or more competitors against each other.

The most common bets are money line, point spread, and Over/Under totals. However, seasoned bettors often mix these bets in parlays, which improve their chances of winning by combining multiple bets into one wager. Using an odds comparison tool such as Covers will help you find the most competitive prices for the bets you want to make. These tools only display regulated and market-leading sportsbooks, and they update every five minutes.

Sports betting has exploded across the United States, with more than 30 states offering legal sports betting. While some state laws are limiting, others are more permissive. Some require that you be within the state’s borders to place a bet. Most legal sportsbooks use geolocation services to confirm a bettor’s location, but sometimes these services fail and incorrectly detect that you are outside of the state border.

Despite the challenges, online sports betting has flourished in New York. The state’s legal sportsbooks launched in 2019 and quickly became a major revenue driver. New Yorkers bet more than $2 billion each month, and that number is expected to grow.