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Spread betting API in the UK: which brokers offer one

Of the brokers we cover, IG is the one that documents spread betting through its own API. Others offer spread betting accounts but either document CFDs only or have no retail API. This is general information, not tax or investment advice.

Independent and unofficialChecked For: UK traders who want to automate spread bets

Risk warning: CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You can lose money on these products, and each provider publishes its own loss figure under FCA rules. You should consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Automated and API trading can amplify losses through bugs, connectivity failures and runaway orders.

Steps

  1. IG: spread bets through the API

    IG says its trading API lets you build or use solutions to trade spread bets or CFDs, and that each market instrument is either a CFD or a spread bet.

    ig.comchecked

  2. IG: spread bet orders look different

    The trading-ig FAQ says spread bets need expiry DFB (or a dated expiry for futures style bets) while CFDs use expiry "-". The wrong one gives REJECT_CFD_ORDER_ON_SPREADBET_ACCOUNT.

    trading-ig.readthedocs.iochecked

  3. IG: only spread bet and CFD accounts

    The API works with spread bet and CFD accounts only. If your default account is an ISA, SIPP or share dealing account, v1 and v2 sessions return public-api.failure.stockbroking-not-supported, according to trading-ig.

    trading-ig.readthedocs.iochecked

  4. Capital.com: API documents CFD accounts only

    Capital.com's public API docs show accountType CFD and do not mention spread betting. Its help centre carries a spread bet risk warning, but we found no statement that spread bet accounts work with the API.

    Unverifiedopen-api.capital.com

  5. CMC Markets and Pepperstone: no retail API

    Both offer UK spread betting, but we found no public retail API. CMC Connect offers FIX and a Direct API to institutional clients only; Pepperstone's API page describes FIX for very high volume accounts. Their MetaTrader and cTrader routes are covered on their broker pages.

    Unverifiedcmcmarkets.com

  6. What differs: stake per point

    IG explains that a spread bet stakes an amount per point of price movement, while a CFD trades a number of contracts, each a set amount of the underlying asset.

    ig.comchecked

  7. What differs: currency

    IG says spread bets are denominated in sterling whatever the underlying market, while CFDs are in the currency of the underlying asset.

    ig.comchecked

  8. Tax note, general information only

    IG states that spread betting profits are free from capital gains tax and stamp duty for most UK residents, and spread bet losses cannot offset other gains; CFD profits fall under capital gains tax. IG adds that tax laws can change and depend on individual circumstances. Not advice: check with HMRC or an adviser.

    ig.comchecked

  9. UK risk context

    The FCA's retail rules cover spread bets as well as CFDs: leverage capped between 30:1 and 2:1, positions closed out at 50% of required margin, no losses beyond account funds, and a standard warning showing the share of the provider's retail accounts that lose money. Each provider publishes its own figure and updates it quarterly, so check the current number on the provider's site.

    fca.org.ukchecked

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