MCP Integration for Sportsbooks
AI-powered sports data integration for sportsbook operators using the Model Context Protocol.
Overview
The AltSportsData MCP server provides sportsbooks with intelligent access to:
- Live Match Data - Real-time scores, statistics, and events
- Odds Intelligence - Market analysis and odds comparison
- League Information - Comprehensive league and team data
- Risk Management - Exposure tracking and limit monitoring
- Player Props - Player statistics and prop bet data
Quick Setup
Configure for Claude Desktop
Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"altsportsdata-sportsbook": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@altsportsdata/mcp-server"],
"env": {
"API_KEY": "your-sportsbook-api-key",
"ROLE": "sportsbook",
"MARKET_ACCESS": "true"
}
}
}
}Available Tools
1. Get Live Match Data
Access real-time match information with live statistics.
{
"name": "get_live_match",
"arguments": {
"match_id": "epl-2024-001",
"include_live_stats": true,
"include_markets": true
}
}Response:
{
"match_id": "epl-2024-001",
"status": "live",
"minute": 67,
"home_team": {
"name": "Manchester United",
"score": 2,
"shots": 12,
"possession": 58
},
"away_team": {
"name": "Liverpool",
"score": 1,
"shots": 9,
"possession": 42
},
"live_markets": {
"moneyline": {
"home": 1.85,
"draw": 3.40,
"away": 4.20
},
"total_goals": {
"over_3.5": 2.10,
"under_3.5": 1.75
}
}
}2. Get Market Intelligence
Analyze betting markets and identify opportunities.
{
"name": "get_market_intelligence",
"arguments": {
"sport": "basketball",
"market_type": "spread",
"timeframe": "24h"
}
}3. Get Player Props Data
Access detailed player statistics for prop bets.
{
"name": "get_player_props",
"arguments": {
"player_id": "lebron-james",
"stat_type": "points",
"season": "2024-25"
}
}4. Monitor Risk Exposure
Track betting exposure across markets.
{
"name": "monitor_exposure",
"arguments": {
"sport": "soccer",
"league": "epl",
"exposure_type": "liability"
}
}5. Get Odds Comparison
Compare odds across different markets and bookmakers.
{
"name": "compare_odds",
"arguments": {
"match_id": "epl-2024-001",
"market_types": ["moneyline", "spread", "total"]
}
}Sportsbook Workflows
Workflow 1: Pre-Match Market Setup
User: "Set up markets for tonight's NBA games"
AI Agent (using MCP):
1. Fetches schedule with get_schedule
2. Retrieves team stats with get_team_stats
3. Analyzes historical matchups with get_h2h_stats
4. Suggests opening lines based on data
5. Provides market recommendations
Result: Complete market setup with recommended oddsWorkflow 2: Live Odds Adjustment
User: "A key player just got injured in the Liverpool match, adjust odds"
AI Agent (using MCP):
1. Identifies match with get_live_match
2. Retrieves player impact data with get_player_impact
3. Calculates odds adjustment with calculate_adjustment
4. Suggests new odds across all markets
5. Updates exposure calculations
Result: Real-time odds adjustments with risk analysisWorkflow 3: Player Props Creation
User: "Create player props for LeBron James tonight"
AI Agent (using MCP):
1. Gets player stats with get_player_props
2. Analyzes opponent defense with get_team_defense_stats
3. Reviews recent performance with get_player_recent_form
4. Suggests prop lines and odds
5. Calculates market limits
Result: Complete player prop offerings with suggested limitsWorkflow 4: Risk Management
User: "Show me our biggest liabilities for this weekend"
AI Agent (using MCP):
1. Monitors exposure with monitor_exposure
2. Identifies high-risk positions with analyze_risk
3. Suggests hedging opportunities with find_hedges
4. Provides limit recommendations with suggest_limits
Result: Comprehensive risk report with actionable insightsAuthentication & Security
API Key Configuration
Your sportsbook API key provides access to:
- Real-time match data
- Market intelligence
- Player statistics
- Risk management tools
Rate Limits
| Endpoint Type | Rate Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Live Match Data | 120 req/min | Real-time updates |
| Market Intelligence | 60 req/min | Analytics |
| Player Props | 100 req/min | Statistics |
| Risk Monitoring | 30 req/min | Exposure tracking |
Security Best Practices
- Store API keys in environment variables
- Use separate keys for production/staging
- Monitor API usage regularly
- Implement request timeouts
- Log all AI interactions for audit
Example Prompts
Market Analysis
"Analyze betting patterns for tonight's Champions League matches"
"Compare our odds to market averages for Premier League games"
"Show sharp money movement in NBA spreads today"Risk Management
"What's our exposure on Manchester United to win the league?"
"Identify correlated risk across parlay bets this weekend"
"Calculate optimal limits for live betting on NFL games"Player Props
"Create props for all NBA games tonight"
"What's Mahomes' passing yards trend against zone defense?"
"Suggest player prop limits based on recent form"Live Operations
"Monitor all live soccer matches and alert on significant events"
"Adjust odds for the Lakers game based on current score"
"Suspend markets where home team is dominating"Integration Examples
TypeScript Integration
import { MCPClient } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk';
const sportsbookClient = new MCPClient({
serverUrl: 'http://localhost:3000/mcp',
apiKey: process.env.SPORTSBOOK_API_KEY,
role: 'sportsbook'
});
// Get live match data
const liveMatch = await sportsbookClient.call('get_live_match', {
match_id: 'epl-2024-001',
include_markets: true
});
// Monitor risk exposure
const exposure = await sportsbookClient.call('monitor_exposure', {
sport: 'soccer',
league: 'epl'
});Python Integration
from altsportsdata_mcp import MCPClient
client = MCPClient(
api_key=os.getenv('SPORTSBOOK_API_KEY'),
role='sportsbook'
)
# Get player props
props = client.call_tool('get_player_props', {
'player_id': 'lebron-james',
'stat_type': 'points'
})
# Compare odds
comparison = client.call_tool('compare_odds', {
'match_id': 'nba-2024-001',
'market_types': ['spread', 'total']
})Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Issue: Live data delays
Solutions:
- Verify WebSocket connection is active
- Check network latency
- Enable push notifications
- Increase cache TTL for non-critical data
Issue: Odds comparison discrepancies
Solutions:
- Verify timestamp synchronization
- Check data source configuration
- Review market type mapping
- Validate odds format (American/Decimal/Fractional)
Issue: High API usage
Solutions:
- Implement request batching
- Use WebSocket for live data
- Enable intelligent caching
- Filter unnecessary data fields
Best Practices
Performance Optimization
- Use WebSockets for Live Data: Subscribe to live match updates instead of polling
- Batch Requests: Combine multiple queries when possible
- Cache Static Data: League info, team rosters rarely change
- Filter Response Data: Request only needed fields
Error Handling
try {
const match = await client.call('get_live_match', { match_id: 'epl-001' });
} catch (error) {
if (error.code === 'MATCH_NOT_FOUND') {
// Handle missing match
} else if (error.code === 'RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED') {
// Implement backoff strategy
} else if (error.code === 'MARKET_SUSPENDED') {
// Handle suspended market
}
}Compliance
- Implement responsible gambling checks
- Log all AI-generated odds suggestions
- Maintain audit trail for regulatory compliance
- Validate all automated decisions
- Set maximum exposure limits
Advanced Features
Custom Market Creation
{
"name": "create_custom_market",
"arguments": {
"match_id": "epl-2024-001",
"market_type": "custom",
"definition": {
"name": "Total Corners in Second Half",
"type": "over_under",
"line": 5.5
}
}
}Automated Hedge Suggestions
{
"name": "suggest_hedges",
"arguments": {
"exposure_threshold": 100000,
"sport": "soccer",
"market_types": ["moneyline", "spread"]
}
}Predictive Analytics
{
"name": "predict_outcome",
"arguments": {
"match_id": "nba-2024-001",
"model_type": "ensemble",
"factors": ["recent_form", "h2h", "injuries"]
}
}Support Resources
- Sportsbook API Documentation
- Risk Management Guide
- Odds Calculation Reference
- Compliance Documentation