The modern betting business is unimaginable without instant access to sports statistics. Previously, odds were formed manually by analysts who monitored the progress of matches and made adjustments promptly. Today, this process is fully automated.
Sports APIs play a key role, transmitting live data to bookmakers: from the score to individual player statistics. It is based on this data that odds are built, lines are formed, and bets are calculated.
Why do bookmakers need sports APIs
- Live odds
When the score or events on the field change, the odds must be updated instantly. For example, a red card for the favorite team instantly changes the probability of the outcome. - Automation of work
Instead of dozens of analysts manually monitoring games, data is processed by algorithms. This speeds up the work and reduces the likelihood of errors. - Volume of information
The modern bookmaker works with tens of thousands of matches per year. Without APIs, it is impossible to collect and process such statistics. - Convenience of integration
APIs provide a ready-made communication channel: data comes in the required format (JSON), and developers simply connect it to the website or application.
How odds are calculated
1. Data collection
The API transmits live information: score, goals, cards, substitutions, possession statistics, and shots.
2. Probability analysis
The bookmaker’s algorithms calculate the probability of event outcomes (for example, the victory of team A).
3. Conversion to odds
The formula for the odds is simple:
If the probability of team A winning is estimated at 50 %, the odds will be 2.0.
4. Margin
The bookmaker adds their percentage (usually 5–10 %) to make a profit over time.
Where are APIs especially important?
- Football – odds change every few seconds depending on the course of the match.
- Tennis – after each point is played.
- Basketball – data must be updated almost in real time.
- UFC and boxing – instant changes during knockdowns and technical decisions.
What APIs do bookmakers use?
There are several solutions on the market:
- API-Football – popular in Europe.
- Goalserve – an American service focused on live.
- Spoyer – focused on betting and odds.
- API-Sport.ru – a leader in the CIS, provides fast and accessible data in Russian.
Advantages of API-Sport.ru for bookmakers
- Minimal latency – data is updated in 0.4 seconds.
- Support for live odds – easy to integrate into bookmaker lines.
- Flexible pricing – costs are 2–3 times lower than Western solutions.
- Russian-speaking support – the team helps integrate the API to meet business needs.
- Multi-sport – football, hockey, basketball, tennis, UFC.
Example of a request for odds through API-Sport.ru
With such a request, the bookmaker can instantly load odds into the website or mobile application interface.
Use cases
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Online bookmakers connect to API-Sport.ru to form a live line and promptly update odds.
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Forecasting services use data for analytics and probability modeling.
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Betting mobile applications connect to the API for push notifications with current odds.
Conclusion
Sports APIs have completely changed the operation of the betting business. Today, odds are generated not manually, but based on statistics that come in real time.
There are various services on the market, but for Russian-speaking projects, the most advantageous and convenient solution is API-Sport.ru. It combines high speed, affordable pricing, and local support.
If you are developing a betting business or forecasting service — start with a free trial at API-Sport.ru and see how convenient it is to work with data through the API.
