Best for
The best odds API for developers.
From a developer's seat, the best odds API is the one you integrate once, type confidently, and never have to babysit. Here are the criteria that matter, and an honest read on where OddsRelay fits.
Who this is for
Engineers integrating odds data into a product who value a clean contract, cache-friendly responses and no SDK lock-in over a feature checkbox.
What matters for developers
A predictable contract
Stable, documented JSON with an OpenAPI spec, so you can generate a typed client and trust the shape across releases.
Cache-friendly by design
ETag/304 and gzip so polling at your cadence is cheap, and you are not re-downloading an unchanged board.
Keys you can manage
Scoped, revocable Bearer keys with a sandbox variant, so you build safely and rotate without drama.
No engine to build
If the feed is matched, you render rows instead of writing a matching engine — there is no matching engine to build and maintain.
Evaluation criteria
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Contract | Documented JSON plus an OpenAPI specLets you type your client and survive releases. |
| Caching | ETag/304 and gzipDecides whether polling is cheap at your cadence. |
| Auth | Scoped, revocable or_live_*/or_test_* Bearer keysSafe to build against and to rotate. |
| Sandbox | A test key on the real response envelopeYou verify the integration before paying. |
| Finish | Matched output if you need opportunities, raw if you need pricesBuying the wrong finish means building or discarding analysis. |
Where OddsRelay fits
- One authenticated GET per market type returns predictable JSON — no SDK to adopt.
- Every response carries an ETag; send If-None-Match for cheap 304s and accept gzip on the wire.
- Keys are or_live_*/or_test_*, sent as a Bearer token, scoped and revocable; the secret is shown once.
- An OpenAPI spec describes every field, scope and rate limit, so a typed client is a generate-step away.
- The matched feed means you render rows rather than build a matching engine.
An honest caveat
If you specifically want to own the matching logic — to tune your own ratings or gating — start with the raw feed and build on top, rather than the matched product. The API ergonomics are the same; you are just choosing where the analysis lives.
Proof
Powers a leading UK matched-betting platform.
Live coverage, freshness and status are published on the coverage dashboard.
Questions
Is there an SDK or client library?
None is required — it is a plain REST API. If you want a typed client, generate one from the OpenAPI spec in your language of choice.
How do I avoid re-downloading the board every poll?
Use the ETag. Send If-None-Match and you get a cheap 304 until the board changes; accept gzip to shrink the transfer. Poll on the matcher cycle rather than per request.
Can I build against a sandbox first?
Yes. An or_test_* sandbox key (or a trial key) returns the real response envelope so you can integrate and verify before committing.
Keep reading
Done-for-you vs DIY
Skip the collection-and-matching stack, or own it — two products off the same backend.
Matched-betting data
Oddsmatcher-ready rows — back/lay paired, rated, gated, bet365 included.
Build vs buy
The real cost of building an odds pipeline yourself — and when buying wins.
Near-real-time vs delayed
What odds freshness actually means, how to measure it, and how much you really need.
Developers
A predictable REST feed you integrate in an afternoon — no SDK, no collection to run, no matching engine.
API docs
Read the docs, grab a key, ship.
Start a free trial, point curl at one endpoint, and integrate against the real envelope today.