Sports Odds API Overview & FAQ
Finding the right sports odds API can make or break your betting platform, analytics tool, or research project. With dozens of providers offering different features, pricing models, and sports coverage, the choice can be overwhelming.
This guide features 4 carefully selected sports odds APIs that represent different strengths and use cases. Whether you're a startup prototyping your first app or an established platform handling millions of requests, you'll find the right fit here.
Want to explore 15+ more sports odds APIs? SportsAPIs.dev is the most comprehensive directory of sports data APIs with detailed comparisons, pricing breakdowns, and feature matrices. We also have an active Discord community with 500+ developers where you can discuss new features, get troubleshooting help from API developers, and share implementation strategies.
Odds API's Frequently Asked Questions
A sports odds API is a programmatic interface that provides real-time and historical betting odds data from multiple sportsbooks. Instead of manually visiting each betting site or scraping data (which violates terms of service), developers can access structured, reliable odds data through simple API calls. These APIs typically provide data in JSON format covering various sports, leagues, betting markets (moneyline, spreads, totals, props), and bookmakers.
Legal and ethical reasons: Scraping sportsbook websites typically violates their terms of service and can result in IP bans or legal action. Sports odds APIs have legitimate data agreements with bookmakers.
Reliability: Websites frequently change their HTML structure, breaking scrapers. APIs provide stable, documented endpoints that don't change unexpectedly.
Speed and efficiency: APIs deliver clean, structured data instantly without parsing HTML, handling JavaScript, or managing proxies.
Data quality: Professional APIs normalize data across bookmakers, handle player name variations, and provide consistent formatting.
Pricing varies significantly based on your needs. Most providers offer:
- Free tiers: 500-10,000 requests per month for prototyping and small projects
- Starter plans: $20-$100/month for individual developers and small applications
- Professional plans: $100-$500/month for established businesses with moderate traffic
- Enterprise plans: Custom pricing for high-volume operations
The key difference is in the pricing model: Some charge per API request, others per market/bookmaker combination, and some charge per game regardless of how many markets you request.
- Sports & league coverage: Does it cover the sports and leagues your users care about?
- Bookmaker selection: More bookmakers = better odds comparison and arbitrage opportunities
- Betting markets: Main markets (moneyline, spreads, totals) vs. prop bets, futures, live betting
- Update frequency: How often are odds refreshed? Critical for live betting applications
- Historical data: Access to past odds for analysis and closing line value (CLV) tracking
- Pricing model: Understand how you're charged to avoid unexpected costs at scale
- Documentation quality: Clear docs with code examples save development time
- Data format: REST API, WebSocket, or both? Support for real-time streaming?
Compare 15+ sports odds APIs side-by-side at SportsAPIs.dev
Featured Sports Odds APIs
Here are 4 top-tier sports odds APIs, each excelling in different areas:
1. The Odds API - Best for Startups & Prototyping
Operating since 2017, The Odds API is the established choice for developers who need reliable odds data with excellent documentation. It's the perfect starting point for new projects.
Key Features:
- Coverage of 70+ sports across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, cricket, tennis, golf, and more
- ~40 bookmakers across US, UK, EU, and Australia regions
- Historical odds data back to June 2020 for research and analysis
- Excel and Google Sheets integrations for non-developers
- Simple REST API with decimal and American odds formats
- Most generous free tier (500 requests/month)
2. Sports Game Odds - Best for Comprehensive Data
The only API that delivers odds, results, outcomes, scores, AND stats in one platform. Sports Game Odds provides comprehensive sports betting data with competitive pricing designed for high-volume operations.
Key Features:
- 80+ sports across 55+ leagues including all major US and international sports
- 80+ bookmakers and daily fantasy providers
- Comprehensive data coverage across multiple markets and bookmakers
- Results and settlements data for determining bet outcomes
- Pre-match and live odds updated every 30-60 seconds
- WebSocket support for sub-minute real-time updates
- Player props, game props, alternative lines coverage
- Historical data from previous seasons
3. OddsPapi - Best for Maximum Bookmaker Coverage
With 300+ bookmakers and particularly strong esports coverage, OddsPapi provides the widest bookmaker selection in the industry. The WebSocket API enables real-time streaming for high-frequency applications.
Key Features:
- 23+ global sports with particularly strong esports market coverage
- 300+ bookmakers - highest coverage of any provider
- REST API + WebSocket for real-time streaming
- Deep linking to specific bets within sportsbooks
- Branding assets (team/tournament logos) included
- Raw, unprocessed data access for custom implementations
- Arbitrage opportunities detection
- 24/7 dedicated support via Discord
4. OddsBlaze - Best for Speed & Advanced Features
Branded as the "world's fastest odds data," OddsBlaze offers unique features like a Same Game Parlay calculator, consensus odds with custom weighting, and comprehensive historical tracking with opening/closing line value analysis.
Key Features:
- 12+ leagues including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAAF, NCAAB, soccer, MMA
- 16+ major sportsbooks with focus on US market
- Same Game Parlay (SGP) calculator - unique feature
- Real-time push feed via Server-Sent Events (SSE)
- Consensus odds with custom bookmaker weighting
- Historical odds with opening/closing line value (OLV/CLV) tracking
- Support for 7 odds formats (American, decimal, fractional, probability, Malaysian, Indonesian, Hong Kong)
- Multiple specialized APIs for different use cases
Quick Odds API Comparison
| Provider | Free Tier | Starting Price | Bookmakers | Special Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Odds API | 500 req/month | $30/month | ~40 | Historical data since 2020 | Startups & prototyping |
| Sports Game Odds | 10 req/min | $99/month | 80+ | Results + stats included | Comprehensive data needs |
| OddsPapi | Available | Custom Self-Serve | 300+ | WebSocket real-time | Maximum Bookie Coverage |
| OddsBlaze | Free 24hr Trial | $29/month | ~16 | SGP calculator | Speed & advanced features |
These 4 sports odds APIs represent different strengths and use cases, and JediBets.com has personally vetted and currently uses these APIs in our production platform. We track 15+ sports odds APIs at SportsAPIs.dev with detailed pricing, features, and honest reviews.
Choosing the Right Odds API
The Odds API is the clear winner here. With the most generous free tier (500 requests/month), excellent documentation, and affordable paid plans starting at $30/month, it's perfect for getting started. The established track record since 2017 means you can trust it won't disappear.
Sports Game Odds is the only provider that includes odds, results, stats, and settlements all in one platform. This eliminates the need to integrate multiple data sources, saving development time and reducing infrastructure complexity for applications that need comprehensive sports betting data.
OddsPapi dominates with 300+ bookmakers, far exceeding any competitor. This is critical for odds comparison platforms, arbitrage detection, and providing users with the widest selection. Their strong esports coverage is an added bonus for that niche.
OddsBlaze brands itself as the "world's fastest odds data" and backs it up with real-time Server-Sent Events (SSE) push feeds. OddsPapi is also excellent for real-time with WebSocket support. Both are suitable for applications where milliseconds matter.
Sports Game Odds offers competitive pricing designed for high-volume operations. With comprehensive data coverage including odds, results, and stats all in one platform, it eliminates the need to integrate multiple data sources, which can save significant costs and development time at scale.
OddsBlaze is the only provider with a Same Game Parlay (SGP) calculator called "BlazeBuilder." It also offers consensus odds with custom bookmaker weighting and comprehensive opening/closing line value (OLV/CLV) tracking - features not available elsewhere.
Explore even more advanced features across 15+ providers at SportsAPIs.dev
Need More Options? Explore Our Full Directory
These 4 sports odds APIs represent different strengths and use cases, but they're just the beginning.
SportsAPIs.dev tracks 15+ sports odds APIs plus dozens more for player stats, live scores, team data, and specialized markets - all with detailed comparisons, pricing breakdowns, feature matrices, and honest reviews.
Join the community: Connect with 500+ developers building sports betting platforms in our Discord community. Get implementation help from active API developers, discuss new features and provider updates, troubleshoot integration challenges, and share best practices with fellow developers.
SportsApis.dev