A sportsbook is a gambling establishment that accepts wagers on various sporting events. Its legal status varies across jurisdictions. Some states have legalized sportsbooks while others still require that you place bets in person at a brick-and-mortar establishment.

The first step in building a sportsbook is establishing the legal framework that will govern it. This is vital to ensure that your business is operating within the law and will not run into issues later on. This includes ensuring that you’re implementing responsible gambling measures, such as betting limits, time counters, warnings and so on.

Another important factor to consider when setting up a sportsbook is finding the right technology to power it. There are a few different ways to do this, including using a turnkey solution, white labeling or going with a custom sportsbook development company.

The latter option offers a lot of flexibility in terms of the features you can offer your users and will allow you to create an engaging user experience. The downside is that you will need to invest a significant amount of time and resources into the development process.

Once your sportsbook is up and running, it’s important to maintain a high level of customer service. This will help you retain your existing customers and encourage them to refer their friends and family to your site. One way to do this is by offering a rewards system that will reward loyal players with free bets and other perks.