A sportsbook is a gambling establishment, whether it’s an online site or brick-and-mortar building that accepts wagers on various sporting events. It’s also called a bookmaker (or bookie) and, like any other betting establishment, it makes money by accepting bets on both sides of a contest, paying out winning bettors from the losing bettors’ funds.

A typical sportsbook requires gamblers to put down $110 in order to win $100, although this ratio can vary based on the specific sportsbook. Some offer a lower minimum bet of $5, while others may have higher maximum bet limits. Sportsbook operators must be careful to maintain a balance between the bettors’ winnings and their losses in order to operate profitably.

Online sportsbooks have become increasingly popular, and many new players have entered the market in recent years. These sites often feature generous sign-up offers, such as bonus bets and first-bet insurance. These bonuses help attract and retain customers, so they should be carefully considered when deciding on a sportsbook to open an account with.

The interfaces of sportsbooks vary between desktop and mobile, but most are synchronized and are suitable for both platforms. Fanatics’ mobile app is a good example, and it features a clean layout that shows users their account balance, available promotional offers, their FanCash balance, the sportsbook’s featured bets and a tab for tracking existing bets. It also offers a variety of ways to deposit and withdraw funds, including online banking, PayPal, Apple Pay and Venmo.