Sportsbetting is the act of placing a wager on a sporting event. This type of betting is legal in many states and is a great way to get involved with your favorite sport. There are a lot of different types of bets you can place including moneyline, spread and parlays.

A point spread is a number that oddsmakers assign to even out an uneven game by forcing the favorite to win by a certain margin or lose by a certain amount. The lower the point spread, the easier it is for a team to cover.

There are also futures wagers which have a long-term payout, such as a bet on a team to win the Super Bowl in the upcoming season. Futures bets can be made all year round but are subject to a reduction in payouts as the season progresses and it becomes more difficult to predict a champion.

Bettors can also make over/under bets on the total amount of points, goals or runs scored in a game. These bets are subject to vigorish, which is the sportsbook’s commission. In addition, the odds on over/under bets are constantly adjusting depending on the action coming in at the sportsbook and other factors like injuries and weather.

When it comes to making money, a smart sportsbettor keeps track of his or her bets in a spreadsheet and only risks 1% to 5% of his or her total bankroll per play. This will ensure that you never bet more than you can afford to lose, regardless of the outcome of a game.