A sportsbook is a venue, either a website or brick-and-mortar building, that accepts bets on various sporting events. In the US, the Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports betting in 2018, which has spawned many new online and mobile sportsbooks. But how do you choose the best one for you? You need to look for a reputable sportsbook with competitive odds, a variety of payment methods and easy-to-use software. In addition, you should always check that the sportsbook you are considering is licensed and regulated in your state.

While some states have legalized sports betting, others are still lagging behind. As a result, some unscrupulous operators have taken advantage of lax or non-existent laws to set up offshore online sportsbooks. These illegal bookies claim to be based in countries like Antigua, Costa Rica and Latvia and prey on unsuspecting American punters.

In-game linemaking is difficult for a sportsbook, but it can boost profits by encouraging more frequent wagering. But it can also lead to skewed lines if the sharp market making is not carefully managed by the sportsbook. To combat this, most legal sportsbooks use geolocation services to ensure that their customers are legally located in the state where they’re betting.