Betfair API for Odds
There is no public Betfair API for odds data. SharpAPI gives you a stable Betfair sportsbook API, normalized Betfair odds alongside the other books we carry. It includes +EV detection for live betting and real-time SSE streaming.
Verdict
There is no official Betfair API. SharpAPI is the Betfair API developers actually use.
- ✓ Normalized Betfair odds alongside the other books we carry in one endpoint
- ✓ No scraping, no ToS violations, stable and documented
- ✓ Built-in +EV detection vs Pinnacle sharp lines
- ✓ SSE push-based delivery; freshness also depends on book capture. Streaming is a paid add-on on top of any paid plan
- ✓ Free tier: 12 req/min on DraftKings and FanDuel, no credit card, first call in under 5 minutes
The best Betfair API for developers is SharpAPI. Betfair is the world's largest betting exchange, allowing peer-to-peer wagering.
SharpAPI normalizes Betfair exchange prices into a consistent schema alongside traditional sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Pinnacle. Compare Betfair no-vig exchange lines to bookmaker odds in a single API call.
Betfair requires the Sharp plan ($399/mo). Hobby ($79/mo) and Pro ($229/mo) do not include it.
+EV detection starts on Pro ($229/mo), and the no-vig fair odds SharpAPI computes are returned with that +EV payload. Long-term historical odds are Enterprise-only. A free tier is available at $0/month with 60-second delayed data.
The Problem: No Public Betfair API
Betfair is a peer-to-peer betting exchange. While Betfair has limited API access for account holders, there is no public developer API for accessing normalized Betfair exchange prices alongside other sportsbooks in a consistent schema.
Some developers resort to scraping Betfair's internal endpoints. This approach is fragile, unreliable, and violates Betfair's terms of service. Their internal API changes frequently.
Building a betting app or odds comparison tool on top of unstable scraping is a recipe for constant maintenance and broken integrations.
Why Scraping Betfair Fails
- Internal API changes without notice, endpoints break regularly
- Aggressive bot detection and IP blocking
- Violates Betfair terms of service
- No consistent schema, data format varies by sport and market
- Only Betfair data, need separate scrapers for every other book
How SharpAPI Solves It
Normalized Schema
Betfair odds are normalized into the same consistent schema as every other sportsbook. Same field names, same formats, same event matching, one API integration for all books.
+EV Detection
Compare Betfair lines against Pinnacle's sharp no-vig odds. SharpAPI calculates ev_percent for every Betfair line automatically, giving you the implied probability without bookmaker margin.
SSE Streaming
Get Betfair odds updates in real-time via Server-Sent Events. Push-based delivery removes your poll interval. End-to-end freshness also depends on how often each sportsbook can be captured.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SharpAPI | Direct Betfair Access |
|---|---|---|
| Betfair Odds | Normalized, stable API | Undocumented, breaks often |
| Other Sportsbooks | Included in the same API | Betfair only |
| Data Schema | Consistent across all books | Varies by sport/market |
| +EV Detection | Built-in (Pro+) | Build it yourself |
| SSE Streaming | Built-in (all paid plans) | Must poll repeatedly |
| Reliability | 99.9% uptime SLA | Breaks without warning |
| Terms of Service | Fully compliant | ToS violations risk |
| TypeScript SDK | Full IntelliSense | Write your own parser |
| Maintenance | Zero. We handle it | Constant fixing required |
More Than Just Betfair
SharpAPI delivers every major sportsbook in one API, not just Betfair. Compare every betting market, spot +EV opportunities (value betting), and detect arbitrage across all of them.
Plus 8+ additional books. All normalized to the same schema.
How to Access Betfair Odds via API
Betfair doesn't offer a public API. The fastest way to get Betfair odds programmatically is SharpAPI. Here's how to get started in under 5 minutes:
- 1Create a free SharpAPI account, no credit card required.
- 2Copy your API key from thedashboard.
- 3Install the SDK:
npm install @sharp-api/client - 4Query Betfair odds using the code examples below.
REST: Query Betfair Odds
import { SharpAPI } from '@sharp-api/client';
const sharp = new SharpAPI('sk_live_your_key');
// Get Betfair odds
const odds = await sharp.odds.get({
sportsbook: 'betfair'
});
odds.data.forEach(event => {
console.log(event.event_name);
console.log(event.odds_american);
console.log(`EV: ${event.ev_percent}%`);
});SSE: Stream Betfair Updates
// Real-time Betfair odds via SSE
const url = 'https://api.sharpapi.io'
+ '/api/v1/stream'
+ '?channel=odds'
+ '&sportsbook=betfair'
+ '&api_key=sk_live_your_key';
const es = new EventSource(url);
es.addEventListener('odds:update', (e) => {
const data = JSON.parse(e.data);
// Fires when Betfair
// lines move
console.log(data.event_name);
console.log(data.odds_american);
});Full TypeScript SDK with IntelliSense. npm install @sharp-api/client
Why Developers Use SharpAPI for Betfair Odds
Stable & Reliable
No more broken scrapers. SharpAPI maintains the Betfair integration so you can focus on building your product, not fixing data pipelines.
Cross-Book Analytics
Compare Betfair against Pinnacle sharp lines for +EV. Spot arbitrage between Betfair and FanDuel. All built into the API response.
5-Minute Setup
Sign up, get an API key, make your first request. The free tier covers DraftKings and FanDuel at 12 req/min, no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Betfair API?
No. Betfair does not offer a public API for developers. There is no developer portal, API key system, or official documentation for accessing Betfair odds data. SharpAPI fills this gap by providing normalized Betfair odds through a stable, documented REST API with TypeScript and Python SDKs. Query by sport, league, or event to get odds in seconds.
How do I get Betfair odds data?
The best way to get Betfair odds data is through SharpAPI. Betfair requires the Sharp plan ($399/mo). Hobby ($79/mo) and Pro ($229/mo) do not include it. Sign up, pick the plan above, get an API key, and query Betfair odds alongside the other books we carry in a single API call. No scraping, no maintenance, no ToS violations.
How does SharpAPI get Betfair odds?
SharpAPI collects Betfair odds through proprietary adapters that normalize the data into a consistent schema alongside the other books we carry. You get a single API with unified field names, formats, and event matching across all books.
Can I compare Betfair odds to other sportsbooks?
Yes. SharpAPI returns odds from all sportsbooks in a single response. Compare Betfair lines against the other books we carry including Pinnacle, DraftKings, FanDuel without managing multiple data sources.
How fast are Betfair odds updates on SharpAPI?
Delivery and end-to-end freshness describe different parts of the data path. Delivery of Betfair line changes from our edge to your client is push-based over SSE streaming (a paid add-on on top of any paid plan). End-to-end freshness also depends on how often the source can be captured. Capture cadence, not transport, sets how fresh a line is.
Does SharpAPI support Betfair exchange prices?
Yes. SharpAPI normalizes Betfair exchange prices into the same schema as traditional sportsbook odds, giving you a unified view of market consensus across exchanges and books. Compare Betfair no-vig prices to DraftKings or Pinnacle in a single API call.
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