The betting and sports analytics market requires instant access to statistics, odds, and match results. This task is solved by sports APIs — interfaces that allow developers to integrate data directly into applications, websites, and analytical platforms.
SportBet API and API-sport are among the most popular solutions in the Russian and international markets. They help:
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bookmakers — to promptly update odds;
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sports media — to publish live results and statistics;
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analysts — to build predictive models;
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developers — to create applications for fans and professionals.
In this article, we will thoroughly analyze both solutions and show why API-sport is considered a more universal and flexible tool.
What is a sports API and why is API-sport distinguished?
API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of tools for accessing data or functions of a service. In sports, APIs open up match results, player statistics, live events, and archives of past seasons to developers.
API-sport — this is an international platform that works with dozens of sports and has long gained popularity among major betting platforms and sports media. Among its features:
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access to live data, archives, and extensive statistics;
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support for dozens of disciplines: from football and hockey to esports;
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high accuracy and speed of updates;
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availability of SDK and detailed documentation.
Against the backdrop of other solutions, including SportBet API, API-sport wins in scalability, ease of integration, and breadth of coverage.
SportBet API
SportBet API is focused on betting and provides:
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odds and chances for calculating bets;
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real-time match results;
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team compositions and substitutions;
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player and team statistics;
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transfer data.
Supported sports
The main focus is on football, hockey, basketball, and tennis. Recently, data on esports has also emerged, but its coverage significantly lags behind API-sport.
Technologies and formats
The service supports REST and WebSocket for live data. Responses are formatted in JSON and XML, which facilitates integration into various systems.
How to access the API?
To start working with the SportBet API, a developer or company needs to register on the official website. After account confirmation, a personal API key is provided, which is used for request authorization. Next, a plan is chosen — free or one of the professional plans. This approach is standard for most sports APIs.
У API-sport The access process is even more convenient: registration takes just a few minutes, keys are activated immediately, and detailed documentation and SDK are provided with each plan. This lowers the entry threshold and saves time on setup.
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.
In addition to the official website, SportBet API data can be found at aggregators — for example, RapidAPI or SportRadar. However, such access has a number of limitations:
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a reduced set of methods;
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lower update speed;
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limitations on the number of requests;
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sometimes a higher cost.
У API-sport There are also integrations through aggregators, but most users prefer to connect directly: this ensures full functionality, higher speed, and favorable rates.
12. Free plans usually include limited access to historical data and basic statistics. Paid subscriptions unlock:
The SportBet API provides a basic free package that is suitable for testing or small projects. It usually includes:
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access to a limited number of sports;
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request limit;
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data update delay.
For full functionality — for example, with live odds or extended statistics — a paid plan is required.
У API-sport the free package is much broader: access is immediately opened to dozens of sports and live data, allowing for testing integration in a real project without additional investments. In paid plans, API-sport offers a flexible pricing system — from basic solutions for small businesses to corporate packages for large bookmakers and media.
17. Number of requests per minute/hour
When working with the SportBet API, users face several important limitations:
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limits on the number of requests per minute, hour, or day;
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delays in updating odds (compared to API-sport, data arrives slower);
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a limited number of sports (most often only football, hockey, basketball, tennis).
API-sport also has limits, but they are more flexible and depend on the chosen plan. For developers, this means that the project can be scaled without the risk of «hitting the ceiling» on requests. Additionally, API-sport guarantees minimal delay in the transmission of live data, which is especially important for betting and sports analytics.
API Integration
Connection examples
Python:
import requests
url = «https://api-sport.pro/v1/football/matches»
headers = {«Authorization»: «Bearer YOUR_API_KEY»}
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
print(response.json())
JavaScript:
fetch(«https://api-sport.pro/v1/football/matches», {
headers: { «Authorization»: «Bearer YOUR_API_KEY» }
})
.then(res => res.json())
.then(data => console.log(data));
Integration into CMS and mobile applications
The API can be connected to WordPress sites through ready-made plugins or custom scripts. SDKs for Android and iOS are available for mobile applications.
Using WebSocket
WebSocket allows receiving live data instantly, without constant polling. This is critical for betting, where a delay of a few seconds can cost money.
Where is it used?
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In betting — updating odds and calculating bets.
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In analytics — building forecasting models.
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In media — broadcasting live results.
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In fan applications — statistics of teams and players.
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In Fantasy Sports and esports — creating interactive games.
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In Big Data and BI systems — integration into analytical dashboards.
Advantages and disadvantages
SportBet API
Speaking of the SportBet API, its main advantage is direct access to odds. For small betting platforms or applications, where the main goal is to display the chances of match outcomes, this is very convenient. You can quickly get data on results, team lineups, and player statistics so that users see current figures.
But there are also limitations. First of all, there are limited sports types. The main focus is on football, hockey, basketball, and tennis, while other disciplines, such as esports or volleyball, are hardly supported. This means that if you want to reach a wide audience or work with niche competitions, the SportBet API may not be versatile enough.
Another important point is the speed of data updates. Odds and match results are updated slower than desired, especially for live betting, where every second can matter. And finally, there are fewer opportunities for large-scale integrations. The documentation is limited, there are no ready-made SDKs, so large projects will have to spend additional time developing their own solutions to work with the API.
API-sport
On the other hand, API-sport looks like a more modern and versatile solution. It covers dozens of disciplines — from popular sports to esports, rugby, and baseball. This makes it a convenient choice for large projects, media platforms, and analytical services where data completeness is important.
Another advantage is the speed and accuracy of updates. Data arrives almost instantly, which is critical for live betting and building analytical models. You receive fresh statistics, odds, and results without delays, saving time and improving the quality of forecasts.
In addition, API-sport It offers ready-made SDKs and detailed documentation for Python, JavaScript, PHP, and mobile applications. This means that integration is faster and easier, and the risk of errors is reduced.
Finally, the service has flexible pricing suitable for both testing and small projects, as well as for large corporate solutions. The only downside is that for large projects, the cost may be higher than that of the SportBet API, but you get a much more powerful tool that justifies its costs.
In general, while the SportBet API is convenient for simple and small projects, API-sport is designed for those who want to work on a large scale, quickly, and with a full range of sports data.
In summary
Both solutions allow working with sports data, but while the SportBet API is limited to a basic set of functions and disciplines, API-sport offers extensive opportunities for betting, media, and analytics. This makes it the optimal choice for projects of any scale.
👉 Register: https://app.api-sport.ru/register
👉 Our TG channel with updates: https://t.me/apisportru.
FAQ
Is there free access?
Yes, both services have a demo mode, but the free package of API-sport is broader.
What sports are supported?
SportBet API — football, hockey, tennis, basketball. API-sport — over 20 disciplines, including esports.
Is the API suitable for betting?
Yes, the SportBet API is specifically focused on betting. API-sport is more versatile: suitable for both betting and analytics, as well as for media.
How to connect the API to the application?
You need to register, get a key, and use REST or WebSocket. The API-sport documentation describes the integration steps in detail.
Can the API be used for predictions?
Yes, statistics and archives allow building analytical models for forecasts.
How is API-sport better than SportBet API?
API-sport is faster, supports more disciplines, and has an SDK for quick integration.
