A sportsbook is a place where people can make wagers on different sporting events. They can bet on which team will win a game, how many points or goals will be scored, and more. There are also other types of bets, like futures bets, which are wagers on a specific event, such as a Super Bowl.

The sportsbook market has exploded since the Supreme Court ruled that individual states can legalize it in 2018. It’s now available in 29 states, and the industry is booming. But despite all the excitement, some experts are concerned about sportsbooks’ ability to be profitable on their own.

One reason is that state taxes can run as high as 51%, which eats into the profits of bettors. Another is that sportsbooks tend to spend more on promotions than they take in, and those expenses can push down the overall return. In addition, there’s a risk that the industry will become too fragmented. The big sportsbooks have the scale to compete with each other, but smaller operators will struggle to survive.

To get started with matched betting, you’ll need to sign up for an account at a sportsbook that accepts your preferred payment methods. You’ll need to provide your ID number, name, address, phone number, and email address. You’ll then be asked to create a password and security question, as well as agree to the terms of use and privacy policy. You can then deposit money into your sportsbook account using a variety of common banking methods.