How do you place a bet on a sportsbook?

This seems trivial and obvious, but it's important. Depending on the day and the sports played during the season, there may be a lot of people and it may be difficult to find a seat. Finding a good seat will allow you to have a place to post and view your bets. But more importantly, it offers you your own “office” or “workstation” where you can write notes, break down the games and make your choices.

If you won the bet, it's a good idea to tip the ticket writer, just as you would tip the poker dealer if you won a big hand or to the dealer who handed you the pizza. Once you tell the cashier your bet and hand them your money, they will print a ticket, also known as a bet slip or receipt. Once you find your seat, head to the ticket window and pick up as many betting sheets as you can. Once you've selected a bet, you'll need to know some basic details before going to the window and betting.

So make sure you bring The Action Network app with you so you can dig deeper into the lines, read our analysis and keep track of all your bets. Betting sheets are sheets of paper that all sports bookmakers distribute free of charge and detail all the games and lines offered. Take it easy and take your betting sheet to the ticket window, along with the game marked with a circle that you're betting on. Before leaving the ticket counter, immediately check the ticket to make sure that it is the correct game number, bet type, amount and equipment.

Don't forget to have your money handy (most bookmakers only accept cash) along with the specific amount you're going to bet. A huge line of bettors is waiting to place their bets at the cashier, popularly known as the “ticket window” or simply “window”. The lights are shining and there are a lot of people and a lot of noise, with hundreds of bettors watching countless games on large screen TVs from wall to wall. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling and wants help, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO & KS), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 (MI) or 1-800-GAMBLER (IL, IN, LA, MD, NJ, OH, TN, VA, WY & WV).