Sportsbooks offer bettors the chance to wager on events in a variety of ways. Some of these include the simplest, straight wagers on which team will win or lose, the total score of a game, or individual player statistics such as rushing yards or tackles made. Other bets are called props, which are proposition bets that look at a variety of different event or player-specific data. These bets often carry higher odds than straight wagers, and some of them can win you a substantial amount of money.

When selecting a sportsbook, make sure to check that it has a valid license and is regulated by the state. This ensures that the sportsbook will pay out winning bets if they are legitimate, and that they won’t take advantage of customers. Another thing to consider is the type of bets the sportsbook offers, and if their odds are fair or not. A good way to find out is to visit a few different sportsbooks and see which one has the best lines.

The betting volume at a sportsbook can vary throughout the year, depending on which sporting events are in season and when they’re taking place. During popular events, there can be major peaks of activity, and some sportsbooks may have different policies on whether they return pushes against the spread. Additionally, some sportsbooks may add a percentage to the odds on a parlay, which is known as juice. This is because a sportsbook has to cover its overhead, such as employee salaries and taxes.