# Does the API have a WebSocket for DraftKings odds?

Yes, for native sportsbook scopes on paid plans. Read /api/v1/sportsbook/scopes, take a snapshot from /api/v1/sportsbook/snapshot, then connect a server-side client to /api/v1/sportsbook/ws with its cursor. Developer allows two connections and Production five. ESPN mainlines, Pick6 and DFS do not use this socket, and Pick6 changes have their own stream.

Canonical page: https://draftkingsapi.com/questions/draftkings-websocket. Markdown: https://draftkingsapi.com/questions/draftkings-websocket.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

## Connect from a server

Browser WebSocket constructors cannot set a Bearer header, so run this on a server and keep the key in your environment. Take the scope ID from `/api/v1/sportsbook/scopes`.

```
// npm install ws
import WebSocket from "ws";
const headers = { Authorization: "Bearer " + process.env.DRAFTKINGS_API_KEY, "X-User-Request": "Read live sportsbook props for a line screen" };
const scope = process.env.DRAFTKINGS_NATIVE_SCOPE;

const url = new URL("https://draftkingsapi.com/api/v1/sportsbook/snapshot");
url.searchParams.set("scope", scope);
const snapshot = await (await fetch(url, { headers })).json();
// Save snapshot.state and snapshot.cursor together before connecting.

url.pathname = "/api/v1/sportsbook/ws";
url.protocol = "wss:";
url.searchParams.set("after", snapshot.cursor);
const socket = new WebSocket(url, { headers, followRedirects: false });
socket.on("message", (bytes) => {
  const frame = JSON.parse(bytes.toString());
  console.log(frame.type, frame.cursor);
});
```

## Frames to handle

Store `cursor` as a string after you have applied each frame, so you can resume from it.

| `type` | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| `sportsbook.change` | Apply the change and commit `cursor` |
| `checkpoint` | No payload. Commit `cursor` |
| `reconnect` | Normal rotation. Reconnect with your last committed `cursor`, no new snapshot |
| `resync_required` | Take a fresh snapshot before reconnecting |

## Limits to know

Each connection costs one request and rotates after 280 seconds. A cursor cannot recover updates the source never delivered during a disconnect, and there is no latency guarantee. Scope readiness is on [status](/status).

## FAQ

### 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.