The Odds API

The ODDS_API_KEY environment variable is available. Use it with curl to fetch data.

Efficient Querying

API quota costs 1 per market per region requested. To minimize usage:

•Only request needed markets (don't request spreads if you only need moneyline)
•Use bookmakers param to filter to specific sportsbooks
•Limit regions to what's relevant (us for US sports, uk for EPL)
•Use eventIds param to fetch specific games instead of all

Sport Keys

US Sports

Key	Sport
`basketball_nba`	NBA
`basketball_ncaab`	NCAA Basketball
`basketball_wnba`	WNBA
`americanfootball_nfl`	NFL
`americanfootball_ncaaf`	NCAA Football
`baseball_mlb`	MLB
`icehockey_nhl`	NHL
`mma_mixed_martial_arts`	MMA/UFC

Soccer

Key	League
`soccer_epl`	English Premier League
`soccer_spain_la_liga`	La Liga
`soccer_germany_bundesliga`	Bundesliga
`soccer_italy_serie_a`	Serie A
`soccer_france_ligue_one`	Ligue 1
`soccer_usa_mls`	MLS
`soccer_mexico_ligamx`	Liga MX
`soccer_uefa_champs_league`	Champions League

Other

Key	Sport
`golf_pga_championship`	PGA Golf
`tennis_atp_aus_open`	ATP Tennis
`boxing_boxing`	Boxing

Markets Reference

Featured Markets (most common)

Market	Description
`h2h`	Moneyline / head-to-head winner
`spreads`	Point spreads / handicaps
`totals`	Over/under game totals
`outrights`	Futures / championship winner

Additional Markets

Market	Description
`alternate_spreads`	Alternate point spreads
`alternate_totals`	Alternate over/unders
`btts`	Both teams to score (soccer)
`draw_no_bet`	Draw no bet (soccer)
`team_totals`	Individual team totals

Period Markets

Market	Description
`h2h_q1`	First quarter moneyline
`h2h_h1`	First half moneyline
`spreads_q1`	First quarter spread
`spreads_h1`	First half spread
`totals_q1`	First quarter total
`totals_h1`	First half total

Player Props

Market	Description
`player_points`	Player points (NBA)
`player_rebounds`	Player rebounds (NBA)
`player_assists`	Player assists (NBA)
`player_threes`	Player 3-pointers (NBA)
`player_pass_yds`	Player passing yards (NFL)
`player_rush_yds`	Player rushing yards (NFL)
`player_reception_yds`	Player receiving yards (NFL)
`pitcher_strikeouts`	Pitcher strikeouts (MLB)
`batter_total_bases`	Batter total bases (MLB)

API Endpoints

List Available Sports

bash

curl -s "https://api.the-odds-api.com/v4/sports/?apiKey=${ODDS_API_KEY}"

Get Odds for a Sport

bash

curl -s "https://api.the-odds-api.com/v4/sports/{sport_key}/odds/?apiKey=${ODDS_API_KEY}&regions=us&markets=h2h,spreads,totals&oddsFormat=american"

Parameters:

Param	Values	Description
`regions`	`us`, `us2`, `uk`, `eu`, `au`	Comma-separated regions
`markets`	`h2h`, `spreads`, `totals`, etc.	Comma-separated markets
`oddsFormat`	`american`, `decimal`	Odds display format
`bookmakers`	`draftkings`, `fanduel`, etc.	Filter to specific books
`eventIds`	UUID	Fetch specific events only

Get Odds for a Specific Event

bash

curl -s "https://api.the-odds-api.com/v4/sports/{sport_key}/events/{event_id}/odds/?apiKey=${ODDS_API_KEY}&regions=us&markets=h2h,spreads,totals&oddsFormat=american"

Get Scores (Live & Recent)

bash

curl -s "https://api.the-odds-api.com/v4/sports/{sport_key}/scores/?apiKey=${ODDS_API_KEY}&daysFrom=1"

Parameters:

Param	Values	Description
`daysFrom`	1-3	Include completed games from past N days

Response Structure

json

{
  "id": "event-uuid",
  "sport_key": "basketball_nba",
  "sport_title": "NBA",
  "commence_time": "2024-01-15T00:00:00Z",
  "home_team": "Los Angeles Lakers",
  "away_team": "Boston Celtics",
  "bookmakers": [
    {
      "key": "draftkings",
      "title": "DraftKings",
      "markets": [
        {
          "key": "h2h",
          "outcomes": [
            { "name": "Los Angeles Lakers", "price": -150 },
            { "name": "Boston Celtics", "price": +130 }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Best Practices

•Compare odds across sportsbooks - Look for the best line/price
•Check for line movement - Note if odds have shifted
•Cite your sources - Always mention which sportsbooks you're quoting
•Explain the odds - American odds format: +150 means $100 wins $150, -150 means bet $150 to win $100

Troubleshooting

Empty results from an API call

Empty results ([]) mean the requested market does not exist for that event. This is normal, NOT a credential issue.

Common causes: off-season (no events), wrong market type for the game stage (e.g., outrights after a championship matchup is set — use h2h,spreads,totals instead), or invalid eventId.

Empty results are not a credential issue — adjust your query parameters instead.