Thousands of sportsbooks exist on the Internet, ranging from large, well known names to small, specialized businesses. The vast majority of sportsbooks offer some form of wagering, but some are only available in person. Regardless of where you do your betting, you should do your research before placing your bets. You want to be sure the book is legitimate, offers adequate security measures, and pays out your winnings promptly.

A number of sportsbooks offer promotions. For example, a few sportsbooks are known for offering boosted odds for certain teams or games. You may be able to get a better price by shopping around. You can also track props that aren’t offered on standard lines. These are not always obvious, but can give you an edge.

The most common type of bet is the “total” bet. In this type of wager, the bettor predicts the combined score of both sides of the game. For instance, a sportsbook might predict a total of 42 points for the Seahawks versus the Rams.

This figure is then multiplied by the odds. For example, a sportsbook might offer 11 to 10 odds for this bet. This means that you’ll need to place $10 to win $11. The more you bet, the higher your odds will go.

The most exciting thing about betting on this type of event is that the payouts tend to be larger. This is because they have a greater risk. The rewards are higher for the more dangerous events.