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Why just watch sports when you can make money from them? Sportsbooks offer the sports gambler many choices to bet on their favorite sports. Learn the basics of sports betting at sportsbooks and be more than just a spectator.

People have always liked to wager. May it be an online poker game or the outcome of sports events - there's a whole lot of people willing to place their money on the line. Sportsbooks are places where you can go to wager on different sports and non-sports events. Betting systems offered depend on the event you are betting on. The sportsbooks or books get a commission from the bets, known as "juice' or "vigorish."

Popular sports to bet on include college and professional football, basketball, auto racing, horse racing, baseball and soccer. You can also bet on tennis, golf and mixed martial arts. If you're not a sports fan, you can also wager on showbiz, politics and even who is going to be Time magazine's "Person of the Year."

Sportsbooks offer different betting odds and betting types depending on the sport. The odds do not indicate the chances of a side winning (though it can reflect it); rather, they are created by the sportsbooks to attract an equal number of bettors on either/all sides of a contest. For example, if Mike Tyson in his heyday attracted too many bets, the sportsbooks would require you to bet more money on him to win less, while for his opponent you can bet less for a chance to win more (in an upset). Sportsbooks want equal numbers of bets (a "balanced book" as it's called) so they are guaranteed profits no matter what the outcome. But they must also give prices that attract bettors since competition is stiff among books.

Before the Internet, the odds came from Las Vegas, THE city of casino games, and it was also there that punters (the sports bettors) came to make their bets. But today online sportsbooks abound. Many of these are based outside the US and are known as "offshore sportsbooks." In the UK, sports betting is widespread and isn't a legal issue like in the US. Each country has its own laws on gambling and sports betting, so before you do business with a sportsbook, make sure it is legal where you live and that you aren't underage.

Internet sportsbooks are fun and convenient compared with traditional books in Nevada. You can bet on anything at any time, there are more sportsbook prices to choose from, and you get bonus money. You can even play virtual sports, so if you're concerned about animal rights, you don't have to feel guilty about betting on a virtual horse race or dog race!

One thing to keep in mind is that no matter what sportsbook you use, it is important to read and understand the terms before you make a bet. Sports become official only when certain conditions are met, and there will be times when the wagers are voided. Generally, a sports event must be completed or at least last long enough to be deemed "official" by the sportsbook. For example, suppose you wagered on who would win the most number of rounds in a boxing match, yet the fight was stopped by the referee due to a head-butt. Does this nullify your bet? Or what if a tennis match is interrupted by several rain delays. Does that cancel the bets? It would all depend on the sportsbook's terms and conditions. Remember, it's what the sportsbook says that counts, not what the officials of the events say (may not be the same).

Always talking about sports with your buddies? Put your money where your mouth is and make your wagers at the books!

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