A sportsbook is a gambling establishment that accepts wagers on various sporting events. The types of bets offered vary, but most accept bets on football, basketball, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, and horse racing. The bookmaker or sportsbook makes money by charging a fee for each bet placed. This is called the juice or vig. It is important to understand how a sportsbook makes money so that you can bet smartly and avoid being taken advantage of.
The first legal online sportsbooks launched only a few months after the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA. New Jersey led the way, launching retail and online sports betting as soon as it was possible to do so. Other states, including Tennessee and South Dakota, followed suit quickly once they were allowed to do so. But Iowa has been a bit of an outlier, since its early launch of sports betting came with a requirement that players must register in person at one of the 13 state-licensed casinos or physical sportsbooks. This proved a major inconvenience for many people, and the industry has not been as successful as some expected.
Meanwhile, Washington has legalized online and retail sports betting, but it is a much more limited affair. The District only has a single online sportsbook, GambetDC, operated by the DC Lottery. However, the Evergreen State does offer mobile and retail sports betting at its partner team stadiums, as well as on tribal casino lands.