Leon API

Sports APIs play a key role in the ecosystem of sports and betting. While access to statistics and match results used to be limited to official league websites or manual data exports, APIs now allow this information to be obtained automatically, in real time. This is especially important for betting platforms, where the speed of odds updates directly affects profit, for sports media that need to publish fresh results and statistics without delays, and for analysts developing models to predict match outcomes based on large datasets.

Such solutions significantly simplify workflows: instead of manually collecting information, developers can connect to APIs and receive structured data about teams, players, tournaments, and even individual game episodes. This not only saves time but also opens up opportunities for building analytical dashboards, visualizing statistics, and implementing machine learning tools for predictions.

API-sport is rightly considered one of the most popular services in this field. Its demand is explained by the wide coverage of sports, access to live data, and rich statistics, including archival data from past seasons. The service is aimed at developers, bookmakers, sports media, and analysts, offering convenient data exchange formats (JSON, REST, WebSocket). As a result, API-sport is used both for creating betting platforms and for developing fan applications, news resources, forecasting tools, and even scientific research in the field of sports analytics.

What is API-sport?

API (Application Programming Interface) is an interface for interaction between software systems. In the case of sports APIs, it provides access to statistics, events, and odds.

API-sport gained popularity due to:

• support for dozens of sports;

• access to live data, archives, and historical results;

• convenient formats (REST, JSON, WebSocket).

It is characterized by flexibility, ease of integration, and affordable pricing, including a free start. Compared to closed solutions of bookmaker APIs, API-sport is more open and scalable.

Leon API

Leon API is primarily focused on betting. It provides:

• coefficients and match results;

• team lineups and player statistics;

• transfers and tournament information;

• data for calculating bets and outcomes.

Supported sports

Leon API covers popular disciplines: football, hockey, basketball, tennis, as well as esports. However, in terms of the number of tournaments and the depth of statistics, it lags behind API-sport, where you can find even niche sports and local championships.

Technologies and formats

Integration is possible via REST and WebSocket. Data is available in JSON and XML. This is standard for most bookmaker APIs, but API-sport offers more flexible SDKs and ready-made libraries for different languages.

How to access the Leon API?

Working with any sports API begins with registration on the platform. In the case of the Leon API, the process is quite standard: you need to create an account, apply for access, after which a personal API key is issued. This key is used for authorization in the system and confirms that requests come from a registered user. After activating the account, you are offered to choose a tariff plan that determines the volume of available data and update speed.

В API-sport The process is similar but more beginner-friendly. Registration takes just a couple of minutes, the key is issued automatically, and detailed documentation helps to test the API right away without lengthy approvals.

10. RapidAPI, SportRadar, and other platforms provide access to BetsAPI and Livescore API through their channels. This is convenient for developers who need ready-made integrations and reliable SLAs.

Some data from the Leon API can be found at aggregators such as RapidAPI or SportRadar. However, this is more of a workaround: the capabilities here are limited, and access to data may be unstable. Moreover, the functionality is restricted — mainly basic results and coefficients, without extended statistics.

API-sport also available on RapidAPI, which is convenient for those who use several APIs in one project. Unlike Leon, almost the full functionality is preserved here, including live data, archives, and player statistics.

12. Free plans usually include limited access to historical data and basic statistics. Paid subscriptions unlock:

An important point when choosing an API is the availability of a free plan.

• Leon API has free access, but it is heavily limited: a small number of requests, reduced functionality, and the absence of many statistical data. This option is more suitable for testing or small projects.

• У API-sport a full demo plan is provided, where you can test all key API features without restrictions on main requests. This allows developers to check the stability of the service and assess how well it meets their needs before purchasing a plan.

Paid plans in both services open up expanded capabilities, but API-sport’s are more flexible: there are options for startups, medium projects, and large companies.

17. Number of requests per minute/hour

Any API has limits on the number of requests and the speed of data updates.

• In the case of Leon API, the limits are quite strict: the number of requests per minute is limited, and the updating of odds and live results occurs with a noticeable delay. This can be critical for betting projects, where every second counts.

• API-sport has much softer limits. Even on basic plans, the number of requests is significantly higher, and the speed of data updates is optimized for live mode. Thanks to this, the service is suitable not only for small websites but also for high-load projects where a stable stream of real-time data is required.

That is why in comparison API-sport it appears to be more flexible and reliable, especially when it comes to large-scale projects where speed of response and broad data coverage are important.

API Integration

Connection examples

The Leon API is accessed through standard requests. For example:

Python: requests.get("https://api.leon.ru/matches", headers={"API-Key": "your_key"})

JavaScript: fetch("https://api.leon.ru/matches", { headers: {"API-Key": "your_key"}})

API-sport has ready-made SDKs for Python, JavaScript, and PHP, which saves time.

Integration into CMS and mobile applications

The Leon API can be integrated into WordPress or mobile applications for Android/iOS, but customization will be required. API-sport has ready-made plugins and code examples.

Using live data via WebSocket

The Leon API supports WebSocket, which speeds up updates. However, the API-sport system is optimized for high loads and shows a more stable stream of live data.

Where is it used?

APIs are used in:

• betting and odds scanners;

• sports analytics and predictions;

• media and fan applications;

• Fantasy Sports and esports;

• BI systems and Big Data platforms.

API-sport more profitable for projects with a wide audience, while Leon API is mainly suitable for internal betting software.

Advantages and disadvantages

When it comes to sports APIs, it’s important not only to have data but also the convenience of obtaining it, flexibility of rates, and speed of operation. Let’s consider the strengths and weaknesses of Leon API and API-sport.

Leon API

The main advantage of Leon API is access to current odds and results for the most popular sports — football, hockey, basketball, and tennis. It also supports the transmission of live data, allowing for real-time match tracking and using this information for bet calculations.

However, this is where the advantages almost end. Leon API is limited in functionality: the number of supported sports is less than that of competitors, access to data is restricted, and is most often intended only for internal use by the bookmaker. This is a serious obstacle for third-party developers. Another downside is the lack of ready-made SDKs and code examples, which makes integration require more time and technical effort. Additionally, there are strict limits on requests and update speed, making the use of Leon API in large-scale projects challenging.

API-sport

A completely different picture is observed with API-sport. This service covers dozens of sports — from popular football and basketball to esports and less common disciplines. This allows developers and analysts to build projects with a maximally wide audience.

Another strong argument in favor of API-sport is the availability of a free tariff. It allows testing all the main features and ensuring the stability of the service before purchasing a subscription. At the same time, the data update speed is very high, which is especially important for live modes and betting platforms.

For developers, API-sport provides ready-made SDKs and detailed documentation, which significantly simplifies integration. Even a beginner programmer can quickly connect the service to a website or application.

The only downside is the cost of professional tariffs: for large projects, they may seem higher than some competitors. However, the price is justified by the quality, volume of data, and ease of use.

Leon API is more of a tool for internal use by the bookmaker, with limited capabilities for third-party integrators. API-sport is a full-fledged, open, and flexible platform suitable for a wide range of tasks: from media and analytics to betting and fan applications.

Alternatives to Leon API

Among the alternatives, SportRadar, RapidAPI, and TheSportsDB are worth mentioning. However, in most cases, the choice falls on API-sport due to its availability, simplicity, and support for many disciplines.

Leon API is more of a closed tool for the bookmaker ecosystem, while API-sport is a full-fledged universal platform for developers.

In summary

Leon API is a useful tool for bookmakers, but it is limited in capabilities and not always suitable for third-party projects. API-sport wins due to its convenient integration, rich functionality, support for many sports, and the availability of a free tariff.

👉 You can register here: https://app.api-sport.ru/register

👉 Our Telegram channel with updates: https://t.me/apisportru.

FAQ

Is there free access to Leon API?
Yes, but it is heavily limited. In API-sport, the demo tariff is more accessible.

What sports are supported?
Leon API – popular (football, hockey, basketball). API-sport – dozens of disciplines, including rare leagues.

Is the API suitable for betting?
Yes, Leon API is more focused on odds. But API-sport can be used for both predictions and integration into betting services.

How to connect the API to the application?
You need to obtain an API key and send requests via REST or WebSocket. For API-sport, there are ready-made SDKs and plugins.

Can the API be used for forecasts and analytics?
Yes, both APIs allow collecting data for predictions. But API-sport provides a wider range of statistics and historical archives.

What is the key difference between Leon API and API-sport?
Leon API is closed and limited. API-sport is a universal tool for developers and media with flexible pricing and broad support for sports.