A sportsbook is a gambling establishment that takes bets on a variety of sports. They are regulated by local and state laws and must adhere to gambling guidelines. They also have to meet a minimum capital requirement, which depends on the legality of sports betting in their jurisdiction and their target market. If you’re thinking of opening a sportsbook, it is important to do your research and know the ins and outs of the business.

There are several ways to get started with a sportsbook. You can build your own platform, or you can buy an existing outlet. Either way, you’ll need a sizable investment to launch and operate your sportsbook, including licensing costs and monetary guarantees required by government regulators. The amount of capital you need will also depend on your expected bet volume and marketing strategies.

The most common type of sports wager is a straight bet, which is placing a bet on the outcome of a single event. For example, if you think the Toronto Raptors will win their game against Boston Celtics, you can place a straight bet on them. Other types of bets include point spreads and moneyline wagers, which offer different payout amounts based on the margin of victory.

The fastest sportsbooks have withdrawal processing times of 12-24 hours for PayPal deposits and 3-5 days for online bank transfers. However, this can vary depending on whether you’re depositing with a high or low risk merchant account. A high risk merchant account will limit your choices for processors and may carry higher fees.