Access historical betting odds for backtesting strategies, analyzing closing lines, and studying line movements
Historical odds data is essential for serious sports bettors and analytics professionals. Unlike current odds which show today's lines, historical odds APIs provide access to past betting lines, enabling critical analysis:
The gold standard for historical odds is Pinnacle closing lines, widely considered the sharpest in the industry due to Pinnacle's high limits and acceptance of winning players.
When evaluating historical odds providers, consider these key factors:
See which providers offer historical data, Pinnacle lines, and closing odds in our directory.
Browse API Directory →Pinnacle is the most respected sportsbook for betting odds data because:
Pinnacle previously offered a public API but discontinued it in 2020. Historical Pinnacle data is now only available through third-party aggregators.
Several third-party APIs provide historical Pinnacle odds with varying depth:
Bet365 is the world's largest online sportsbook and highly valuable for historical analysis:
Bet365 does not offer a public API. Historical Bet365 data is available through third-party providers who aggregate data from multiple sources. Look for providers offering:
Note: Always use legitimate third-party data providers. Check our directory to find providers with Bet365 historical data.
The primary use case. Test your predictive models against historical odds to see if they would have been profitable:
Pitfall to Avoid: Don't backtest against opening lines only - you need to know what odds were available when your model would have actually made the bet.
Measure your betting performance by comparing your bet prices to closing lines:
Example: You bet Lakers -5.5 at -110. Pinnacle closes at -6.5. You beat closing by 1 point (positive CLV).
Analyze how odds move from opening to closing to identify sharp action:
Find historical arbitrage opportunities to validate arb strategies:
Academic and professional analysis of betting market behavior:
Determine which sportsbooks historically offer the best value:
| Sport | Typical Historical Depth | Pinnacle Available | Data Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | 5-10 years | ✅ Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Most complete data available |
| NBA | 5-10 years | ✅ Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Includes player props historical |
| MLB | 5-10 years | ✅ Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Most extensive dataset |
| NHL | 3-7 years | ✅ Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Good coverage, fewer props |
| Soccer | 3-7 years | ✅ Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Varies by league |
| College Sports | 2-5 years | ❓ Limited | ⭐⭐⭐ | Less consistent coverage |
| MMA/Boxing | 2-5 years | ✅ Good | ⭐⭐⭐ | Major events well-covered |
| Tennis | 3-5 years | ✅ Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Grand Slams excellent |
Historical odds data is typically more expensive than current odds because:
Free Options: Some providers offer 30-90 days of historical data in their lower-tier paid plans (starting ~$50/month). For longer history (years of data), expect $200+/month. Compare pricing in our directory →
Free historical odds data is very limited. Some providers include limited historical data (past 30-90 days) in their free tiers. Sports-Reference.com offers basic closing lines for major sports going back years (free with registration). For comprehensive historical databases with Pinnacle/Bet365, you'll need paid access. Check our directory to compare historical data offerings.
Closing Line Value measures the difference between the odds you bet at and the closing odds (final odds before game starts). If you consistently bet at better prices than closing, you're beating the market. Example: You bet Lakers -5 (-110), line closes at -6 (-110). You gained 1 point of CLV. Pinnacle closing lines are the gold standard for CLV calculation.
Most third-party providers offer Pinnacle historical data from 2018-present. Some specialized providers have older data, but Pinnacle's API shutdown in 2020 makes pre-2018 data harder to find. Compare providers in our directory to find the best historical depth for your needs.
Yes, this is the primary use of historical odds APIs. To properly backtest: (1) Get historical odds data with timestamps, (2) Run your model's predictions for past games, (3) Determine which odds would have been available when your model made each prediction, (4) Calculate P&L assuming you bet those odds. Never backtest using only opening or closing lines - use the actual odds available at decision time.
Opening lines are the first odds posted by sportsbooks (often Sunday night for NFL). Closing lines are the final odds right before the game starts. Closing lines are more accurate because they incorporate all betting action, sharp money, and late information. For backtesting, closing lines are more important.
Some do, but historical player props data is much more limited than game odds. A few providers include historical player props for NBA, NFL, and MLB going back 2-3 seasons. Expect to pay premium prices ($300+/month) for comprehensive historical props databases. Check our directory for providers offering historical props.
Pinnacle accepts professional bettors (unlike most sportsbooks that limit or ban winners), has very high betting limits, and uses sophisticated pricing models. This means Pinnacle's lines reflect true market consensus from sharp bettors. Other books often copy Pinnacle's lines because they're so accurate.
Some providers offer bulk historical data downloads in CSV or JSON format. This is often cheaper than API access if you only need a one-time historical dataset. Expect to pay $500-2000 for multi-year, multi-sport CSV dumps. Check our directory for providers offering data exports.
Join our Discord to discuss historical odds strategies, share backtesting results, and get recommendations from experienced bettors.