In the United States, a sportsbook or a race and sports book (sometimes abbreviated as book) is a place where 4️⃣ a gambler can wager on various sports competitions, including golf, football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, horse racing, greyhound racing, 4️⃣ boxing, and mixed martial arts. The method of betting varies with the sport and the type of game. In the 4️⃣ US, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 allowed only Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware to legally wager 4️⃣ on sports other than horse racing, greyhound racing, and jai alai; the law was ruled unconstitutional on May 14, 2024, 4️⃣ freeing states to legalize sports betting at their discretion.

Winning bets are paid when the event finishes, or if not finished, 4️⃣ when played long enough to become official; otherwise, all bets are returned. This policy can cause some confusion since there 4️⃣ can be a difference between what the sportsbook considers official and what the sports league consider official. Customers should carefully 4️⃣ read the sportsbook rules before placing their bets.

The betting volume at sportsbooks varies throughout the year. Bettors have more interest 4️⃣ in certain types of sports and increase the money wagered when those sports are in season. Major sporting events that 4️⃣ do not follow a specific schedule, like boxing, can create peaks of activity for the sportsbooks.

Nevada [ edit ]

Odds boards 4️⃣ in a Las Vegas sportsbook