Welcome to the Smarkets API. Whether you are looking to automate your trading strategies, build custom interfaces, or manage high-frequency betting, our API provides the robust infrastructure you need to interact with our exchange. 

Getting Started

To ensure a fair and stable environment for all users, API access is available to account holders who meet the following requirements:

• Active Smarkets Account: You must have a fully registered and verified Smarkets account.

• Administration Fee: A one-time administration of £150 is required for activation

• Application Approval: Access is granted via an application process to ensure your use case aligns with our exchange health guidelines.

*Please note that API customers are ineligible for any affiliate commission offers, as well as the 60 day 0% commission offer for new customers

How to Apply

1. Review the Documentation: Familiarise yourself with our endpoints and rate limits by visiting our API Documentation Portal.

2. Submit Your Request: Complete the API Request Form.

3. Verification & Setup: Our team will review your application. Once approved, your deposit will be deducted from your available balance and your API keys will be activated.

Smarkets API Terms and Conditions

1. API Usage 

We provide an API that enables authorised users to access our exchange platforms functionality directly, without always needing to visit smarkets.com in a browser.

Access to the API - and any automated interactions with our platform or services - is permitted only after you have completed our API Application Form, undergone the authorisation process, and received our explicit approval. Smarkets retains full discretion to refuse access to the API at any time.

In addition to this document, our Customer Terms and Conditions and the Betting Rules apply. 

2. Authorisation

The API is designed to allow authorised users to view market prices and place bets on their Smarkets account. All other uses are strictly prohibited, including but not limited to, odds scraping, concealing API calls, browser impersonation or reverse engineering.

Protecting the security and integrity of our exchange is paramount. Should we detect or suspect unauthorised use, we reserve the right to take prompt action such as API access removal, bet cancellation, account suspension or closure, and pursuance of legal recourse to safeguard the platform and customers.

All customers will be subject to a compliance review of their account within the first 60 days to remain eligible to continue trading. 

3. Setup Fee and Commission

A one-time administrative setup fee of £150 will be deducted from your account balance upon successful registration for API usage. Should you choose to permanently withdraw from API usage within the first 60 days, your setup fee will be refunded.

All accounts will be subject to standard Customer Commission as outlined here 

*Please note that API customers are ineligible for any affiliate commission offers, as well as the 60 day 0% commission offer for new customers

4. Ongoing Requirements

As a condition of API access, you will be required to provide details of your technical setup and the intended interaction with the API. Failure to do so may prevent approval or lead to removal of access without notice.

In the event that any of this information changes, you are required to keep Smarkets updated of any changes.

5. Restrictions

API usage may be subject to specific restrictions and/or incur additional fees. Usage is restricted to pre-approved events and markets only.

You may not share, sell or distribute platform data - such as prices, market status, events or business information - with third parties without written approval from Smarkets.

Additionally, usage of the API or its data to benchmark markets, prices, liquidity or systems is not permitted. 

Smarkets will preapprove call limits per period. Exceeding them may lead to temporary suspension; and repeated violations could result in API or account access being permanently revoked. Smarkets will not be liable for any losses incurred due to API or account access being restricted.

We reserve the right to withdraw API access at any time without notice.

6. Fair Usage:

6.1 This policy governs all API, data, documentation, and materials accessed via smarkets.com. By connecting, you agree to adhere to the access, call, and usage limits as notified. If we believe you are circumventing rate limits to the detriment of others, we may temporarily or permanently restrict API or account access. 

We monitor usage to enhance our service and ensure compliance. You agree not to:

• Use the API outside the scope of this agreement.
• Interfere with or disrupt API features.
• Sell, rent, or redistribute the API or data without our prior written consent.
• Monitor or benchmark our services for competitive purposes.
• Transmit material that could harm software, hardware, or networks.

Exceeding the approved limits may lead to temporary blocks or API access removal, potentially affecting account usage.

Persistent non-compliance may lead to prolonged suspension or account termination, with or without notice.

Smarkets will not be liable for any losses incurred due to API or account access removal.

7. Grounds for Suspension or Termination:

Breaching the terms and conditions outlined in this policy, and Smarkets Terms and Conditions, may lead to account suspension or termination. API specific grounds include but are not limited to:

• Data Harvesting: Requesting high volumes of pricing data without placing a corresponding volume of bets. Our real time odds are proprietary - using the API solely to monitor markets violates this
   
• Fee Avoidance: Creating or controlling multiple accounts to avoid changing commission thresholds. This is treated as attempted fraud and will result in potential loss of profits due to commission recalculation and account termination 
   
• Unfair Trading: Strategies that we view as harmful to the ecosystem, such as latency arbitrage or court-siding, where delays are exploited to disadvantage other customers. Smarkets reserves the right to act in accordance with keeping the exchange fair for all customers.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about using the API, please contact the Customer Operations Team at support@smarkets.com