Sportsbook data, in plain words

Accumulator (parlay)

One bet on several outcomes that all have to win. It is graded once every leg has a result; a void leg usually counts as odds 1.00.

Asian handicap

A handicap market that removes the draw. Whole lines can push (stake back); quarter lines split the stake over two neighbouring lines.

Backup feed

A second feed that keeps a sportsbook's markets open when its main feed drops.

Bet slip check

Asking a leg's current price and status right before accepting a bet, and again after the in-play delay.

Decimal odds

The payout per unit staked, stake included: 2.50 returns 2.50 for a stake of 1. The feed sends prices as decimal odds.

Fractional and American odds

Other ways to write the same price: 3/2 (fractional) and +150 (American) are both decimal 2.50. Try the odds converter.

Heartbeat

A small message sent every few seconds so the receiver knows the feed is alive. The feed sends one every 10 seconds.

Implied probability

The chance a price stands for: 1 divided by the decimal odds. 2.00 implies 50%.

In-play (live)

While the match is being played. Prices move with the score and the game, and markets are suspended when something happens.

In-play delay

A few seconds a sportsbook waits before accepting a live bet, so a price that just moved is not taken.

In-play settlement

Settling a market while the match is still on, because the score already decides it: Over 2.5 after the third goal.

Line

The number in a handicap or total market: the 2.5 in "Over 2.5", the −1 in "Home −1".

Margin (overround)

How much the implied probabilities of a market add up to above 100%: the bookmaker's built-in edge. Try the margin calculator.

Market

One question about a match with its possible answers: match result, total goals over or under 2.5, both teams to score.

Odds feed

A stream of betting prices for sports events, delivered to software over an API. A sportsbook feed gives one priced line per market for a sportsbook to offer; an odds API usually resells many bookmakers' prices for comparison.

Outcome (selection)

One answer of a market that can be bet on, such as "Over 2.5". Each has a price, a status and, at the end, a result.

Pre-match

Before kick-off. Pre-match markets are listed from the moment a fixture is priced until it starts.

Push

A result that lands exactly on the line, such as a total of 3 on "Over 3": the stake comes back.

REST and WebSocket

Two ways to get the data: REST answers when you ask (a snapshot, a catch-up); a WebSocket stays open and pushes every change as it happens.

Rollback (withdrawn result)

A result taken back after it was sent. The feed sends it as a row with pending; the sportsbook undoes that payment and waits for the new result.

Settlement

Deciding each outcome's result once the match decides it, so bets can be paid. In the feed: each outcome pending, then won, lost or void.

Sportsbook feed

A feed with everything a sportsbook runs on: fixtures, markets and odds, scores and the result of every bet, on the same ids.

Suspension

An outcome that is still offered but cannot be bet on for now, for example right after a goal or during a dangerous attack. A sportsbook must not accept bets on it.

Void

The bet is cancelled and the stake returned. In the feed, void also covers a push.

White-label and turnkey sportsbooks

Ready sportsbook platforms an operator rents and brands as its own. They need a data feed underneath.

How the feed sends each of these: data types and glossary in the docs.