How Does a Sportsbook Make Money?

A sportsbook is a specialized service that accepts wagers on various sporting events. It is often the centerpiece of a larger online gambling brand, which includes separate racebooks, casinos and live-action gaming options.

In addition to accepting bets on individual games, many sportsbooks also offer Over/Under totals, which are based on the combined score of multiple teams. These bets are popular because of their high payout potential. However, getting all the legs of a parlay correct can be extremely difficult.

One of the primary ways that sportsbooks make money is by charging a commission, or vig, on bets placed with them. The amount of the vig varies between sportsbooks, and can even be negotiable in some cases. In general, the vig is about 4.5% of a bet’s total value, and it covers administrative costs like labor, risk management, and payment processing.

Another way that sportsbooks make money is by shading their lines. This is done by taking into account the habits of bettors, such as their propensity to take favorites or to jump on the bandwagon of perennial winners. In addition to this, the sportsbooks try to price their odds so that they are close to a “centered game,” meaning that the winning percentage for point-spread and moneyline bets is similar to that of the true expected probability of each event.

The amount of money wagered at a sportsbook can vary greatly throughout the year, with some events creating peaks in activity. This is due to the fact that some sports follow a seasonal schedule, while others don’t have specific seasons, such as boxing.