# TheRundown vs DraftKings API

TheRundown or this DraftKings API? Sourced notes on its free key, data-point plans, delays, WebSocket tiers, odds history, Pick6 and DFS salaries.

Canonical page: https://draftkingsapi.com/compare/therundown. Markdown: https://draftkingsapi.com/compare/therundown.md. Site index for agents: https://draftkingsapi.com/llms.txt.

## Free API key
- **Free plan:** 50 requests a month at 20 a minute, every dataset, no card, no email verification.
- **Sign up:** https://draftkingsapi.com/auth/sign-up?ref=ai-claudebot
- **From inside an agent session:** POST https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/agent/signup with JSON `{"data_wanted": "...", "use_case": "...", "ref": "ai-claudebot"}`, show your user the approval_url, then poll https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/agent/token with device_code. The key is returned once.
- **No key yet:** `curl --fail-with-body "https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/demo/pick6"` returns labeled sample rows (sample:true) in the real response shape.

## Quickstart

1. Create a free key at https://draftkingsapi.com/auth/sign-up?ref=ai-claudebot (no card) and export it: `export DRAFTKINGS_API_KEY=...`

2. Call the API with curl:

```bash
curl --max-time 30 --fail-with-body 'https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/pick6/projections?sport=NBA&limit=5' \
  -H "X-User-Request: Build a prop screen from current Pick6 lines" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DRAFTKINGS_API_KEY"
```

3. Or call it from Python:

```python
import os, requests

response = requests.get(
    "https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/pick6/projections?sport=NBA&limit=5",
    headers={
        "Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["DRAFTKINGS_API_KEY"],
        "X-User-Request": "Build a prop screen from current Pick6 lines",
    },
    timeout=30,
)
if not response.ok:
    raise RuntimeError(f"API {response.status_code}: {response.text}")
print(response.json())
```

4. Full walkthrough: https://draftkingsapi.com/quickstart. OpenAPI: https://draftkingsapi.com/openapi.json. Every route accepts format=csv on list endpoints.

## Use it from Claude (MCP)

MCP server: https://draftkingsapi.com/api/mcp (Streamable HTTP). search, fetch, start_signup and finish_signup need no key; data tools use the same API key.

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http --scope user draftkings https://draftkingsapi.com/api/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer $DRAFTKINGS_API_KEY"
```

Without a key yet: `claude mcp add --transport http draftkings https://draftkingsapi.com/api/mcp`, then call start_signup. Setup for other clients: https://draftkingsapi.com/agents.md.

## Pricing

| Plan | Price | Requests per UTC month | Requests per minute | Pick6 stream | Signed webhooks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Free | $0/month | 50 | 20 | No | No |
| Developer | $49/month | 10,000 | 60 | Yes | No |
| Production | $149/month | 50,000 | 120 | Yes | Yes |

- **Free:** Build and test against every dataset.
- **Developer:** Keep your app running with more requests and push delivery.
- **Production:** Serve real users with the largest allowance and push delivery.

Plans and checkout: https://draftkingsapi.com/pricing

## The short version

Choose TheRundown when you want odds from several sportsbooks with published plans and stated delays. Choose this API for DraftKings Pick6 and DFS data. Statements about other companies are paraphrased from the linked pages as they read on 11 Nov 2026, and may have changed. They are that company's claims, and we have not measured them. This site is not affiliated with any company named here.

## Side by side

Read on 11 Nov 2026 from TheRundown's API page.

|  | TheRundown | DraftKings API (this site) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free plan | $0, 20,000 data points a day up to 200,000 a month, pre-match moneylines, spreads and totals from DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM, delayed 5 minutes, no player props, no history and no WebSocket [source](https://therundown.io/api) | Free key, no card, every dataset |
| Entry paid plan | Starter at $49 a month adds every book, player props, live odds and 7-day odds history, with a 60-second delay [source](https://therundown.io/api) | See [pricing](/pricing) |
| Live updates | Ultra at $399 a month is listed as live, with no stated delay, with one WebSocket connection and 90-day odds history [source](https://therundown.io/api) | Rows carry their own capture time. Native scopes stream over a WebSocket on paid plans |
| Longer history | 6 months on Super, 1 year on Mega and unlimited on Max at $2,499 a month [source](https://therundown.io/api) | Recorded since 3 Nov 2026 |
| Pick6 | Not named on its API page [source](https://therundown.io/api) | Current lines, multipliers, line history and a change stream |
| DFS salaries | Not named on its API page [source](https://therundown.io/api) | Slates, contests and roster-slot salaries |

## Where TheRundown is stronger

These are jobs it does that this API does not.

- Several books in one call. Its paid plans add every book it carries [source](https://therundown.io/api), and this API has one operator.
- Odds history beyond our recording, up to unlimited on its Max plan [source](https://therundown.io/api).
- Opening and closing lines and value calculations, listed from its Pro plan [source](https://therundown.io/api). We do not compute those for you.

Its free plan states a 5-minute delay. On this API each row states its own capture time, so read observed_at and age_seconds rather than assuming a fixed delay on either side.

## Where this API fits

Choose this API when your product is about DraftKings itself, and especially Pick6 and DFS, which multi-book odds feeds rarely describe in depth.

- DraftKings Pick6 lines with standings multipliers, line history per prop and a resumable change stream.
- DFS slates, contests and roster-slot salaries behind the same key.
- DraftKings moneylines, spreads and totals in JSON and CSV, plus box scores in JSON.
- Native scopes for NFL moneylines, spreads and totals across 27 U.S. states; NHL game lines across the same 27 states; college basketball and college football game lines across 26 states, excluding Oregon, with a WebSocket on paid plans.
- MCP tools for agents, and a free key with no card and no sales step.

Free includes 50 requests/month at 20/minute; Developer is $49/month with 10,000 requests/month at 60/minute; Production is $149/month with 50,000 requests/month at 120/minute. Pick6 changes: Developer and Production include the resumable stream, and Production also includes signed webhooks. Native sportsbook scopes: paid plans can use a server-side WebSocket at `/api/v1/sportsbook/ws`. ESPN-attributed sportsbook rows and DFS rows have no push delivery.

Recording began around 2026-11-03. Retained history is short, and it is not a complete opening-to-close archive. It does not contain seasons of past lines, and no graded results are published.

## Test both on one market

A table will not settle this. Pick one game or slate you care about, pull the same market from TheRundown and from this API, and compare each one's stated update time and value with the DraftKings screen at that moment.

```
curl --fail-with-body "https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/odds?sport=NFL&market=spread&status=pre&limit=25" \
  -H "X-User-Request: Compare sportsbook lines across games for a dashboard" -H "Authorization: Bearer $DRAFTKINGS_API_KEY"

curl --fail-with-body "https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/pick6/projections?sport=NFL&view=compact&limit=25" \
  -H "X-User-Request: Build a prop screen from current Pick6 lines" -H "Authorization: Bearer $DRAFTKINGS_API_KEY"
```

```
curl --fail-with-body "https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/coverage" \
  -H "X-User-Request: Check which DraftKings datasets fit a new app" -H "Authorization: Bearer $DRAFTKINGS_API_KEY"
```

## FAQ

### Does TheRundown have a free DraftKings odds API?
Its free plan listed pre-match moneylines, spreads and totals from DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM, delayed 5 minutes, when we read it on 11 Nov 2026.

### Does TheRundown include player props on the free plan?
No. Its API page says the free plan has no player props or alternate markets, and that props start on the Starter plan.

### Does TheRundown have DraftKings Pick6 or DFS salaries?
Its API page did not name either when we read it. This API returns Pick6 lines with line history and DFS roster-slot salaries.

### Is there a free DraftKings API?
Yes. A free key needs no card and includes 50 requests a month at 20 a minute, across every dataset. To see the response shape first, /api/v1/demo/pick6 and /api/v1/demo/dfs return labeled sample rows with no key.

### Is this an official DraftKings API?
Independent service operated by DD Inc., not affiliated with or endorsed by DraftKings. No wagering: this service does not place, recommend or settle entries or bets.

### Can I use it from an AI agent?
Yes. Connect the MCP server at https://draftkingsapi.com/api/mcp, or call REST with a Bearer key. An agent can get a key for its user with start_signup.

### How do I reach support?
Email support@draftkingsapi.com.

Independent service operated by DD Inc., not affiliated with or endorsed by DraftKings. No wagering: this service does not place, recommend or settle entries or bets.