A sportsbook is a gambling establishment that accepts bets on various sporting events. A sportsbook offers a variety of betting options, including moneyline bets, over/under (odds) bets, and prop bets. The betting volume at a sportsbook varies throughout the year, with some sports having higher activity levels than others. In addition, major sporting events can create betting peaks.
The betting market for a Sunday NFL game starts to take shape two weeks before kickoff. Each Tuesday, a handful of select sportsbooks release the so-called look ahead lines for next week’s games, also known as 12-day numbers. These opening odds are based on the opinions of a few smart sportsbook managers, but not a ton of thought goes into them. The betting limits on these early lines are typically a thousand bucks or two, which is substantial for most punters but less than the amount of money a professional gambler would risk on a single pro football game.
Once the betting public sees these early limit bets, the line moves at most sportsbooks, attracting significant action from sharps. The resulting action can force the books to adjust their lines, especially on futures and props, which are often influenced by news regarding players and coaches.
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