A sportsbook is a place where you can bet on sports. The best sites offer competitive odds and a wide variety of sports. You can also choose from fixed odds, fractional odds, or even money. To make a smart choice, you need to research a sportsbook’s reputation and its history.
Even-money sportsbooks
When placing a bet at an even-money sportsbook, you can get a number of benefits. One of these is the ability to use your credit card. While credit cards are commonly used at most sportsbooks, you can also make deposits with PayPal, which has additional security and convenience benefits. Once you’ve set up an account, PayPal will send you a one-time access code, which you can then use to authenticate your account.
Fixed odds
Fixed odds at sportsbooks are a great way to simplify the betting process. These bets are not subject to a spread, which eliminates the bookmaker’s profit margin. Fixed odds also make wagering easier for new bettors who are not familiar with the betting process.
Fractional odds
In many sports betting situations, the odds at a sportsbook are set in fractions. For example, if you bet on the A’s at 7/5, you can expect to win at least seven times for every five dollars you wager. Conversely, if you bet on the Saints at 2.60 decimal odds, you will win at least six times as much for every five dollars you wager.
Circle game
A sportsbook may decide to circle a game for a variety of reasons. One of the most common is the availability or effectiveness of a key player. If a player is unavailable, it could significantly impact the outcome of the game and affect the line. If a player is unavailable for a long period of time, this could lead to big losses for the sportsbook.
Site credit
Similarly to free bets, site credit for sportsbooks is a form of promotion. This credit is given to you for wagering, and you may use it to make multiple wagers or one large bet. You can even divide the site credit into special bets, such as risk-free bets, which give you your stake back in case your bet loses.
Bonuses
If you’re new to sports betting and are interested in placing your first wager, look for sportsbooks that offer signup bonuses. These bonuses are often risk-free and offer a percentage of your deposit back. However, before you take advantage of a signup bonus, make sure you read the terms and conditions.
Legalized sports betting in Arizona
The state of Arizona has legalized sports betting, and the gambling industry is thriving. There are 20 licensed gambling operators and two commercial sportsbooks in the state. The Arizona Department of Gaming is the regulatory body that oversees sports betting in the state. Retail bets are taxed at 8%, while online and mobile wagers are taxed at 10%. This tax rate is on par with neighboring states Ohio and Colorado. Other states aggressively tax sports betting, such as New York and Nevada.