Matchbook has completed its acquisition of fellow betting exchange Betdaq, for an undisclosed sum, bringing the number of major exchange operators in the UK down to four. The deal, confirmed on 14 October 2026, also includes Racecourse Data Technologies, which supplies hardware and software to on-course bookmakers who hedge into the Betdaq exchange. It marks the latest step in Matchbook’s shift from a pure exchange operator towards a broader peer-to-peer pricing business spanning prediction markets.
What happened
Betdaq was founded in 2000 by Irish financier Dermot Desmond, making it one of the earliest betting exchanges in the world.
Desmond sold the business to Ladbrokes for €30 million in 2013 but bought it back eight years later from Ladbrokes’ parent company Entain.
That second ownership spell has now ended with the sale to Matchbook.
The existing Betdaq service continues trading as the businesses transition.
Betdaq trading remains open until 21 October 2026, with withdrawals available until 4 November 2026.
Betdaq’s licensed operator, Exchange Platform Solutions Limited, is simultaneously beginning an orderly closure of the exchange’s gambling operations, with products including casino, virtuals, sportsbook and multiples withdrawn ahead of the exchange itself shutting. Matchbook has said customer funds remain protected under both operators’ regulatory obligations throughout the handover.
Matchbook chief executive Ronan McDonagh framed the deal as a continuation of the exchange model’s founding principle, saying
“Betdaq and Matchbook grew up proving the same idea — that bettors get a better deal when prices are made by a market rather than a margin.”
He added that combining the two businesses would create a deeper liquidity pool offering tighter spreads for customers of both platforms.
Why it matters
The Matchbook Betdaq acquisition leaves four dominant exchanges standing in the UK’s betting market.
The acquisition brings the number of major betting exchanges down to four, with the other three dominant exchanges being Betfair Exchange, Spreadex and Smarkets.
For a sector where growth has flattened in recent years, consolidation of this kind concentrates trading volume and liquidity among fewer operators, which can improve pricing but narrows competitive choice for bettors and the affiliates who promote exchange products.
For affiliates and comparison sites, the deal removes a long-standing brand from exchange betting tables and odds comparison tools, meaning existing Betdaq affiliate links and content will need updating or redirecting towards Matchbook before the October closure date. Operators running exchange-focused acquisition campaigns may also see a short-term shift in search traffic as bettors look for alternatives once Betdaq’s sportsbook and casino products are withdrawn.
The bigger picture
Matchbook has tied the deal explicitly to renewed global interest in peer-to-peer betting models, a trend it has been positioning itself to capture ahead of rivals.
In 2026, Matchbook significantly ramped up its activity in prediction markets and B2B activity, having become the first UK firm to launch a prediction markets platform in December 2025 amid the sector’s growth in the US.
The acquisition of Betdaq’s customer base and technology gives that strategy additional scale just as US-driven demand for exchange-style pricing continues to build.
The deal also closes a notable chapter in UK betting history. Betdaq’s ownership has moved from its founder to a major bookmaker and back again over a quarter of a century, reflecting how exchange betting has repeatedly been reshaped by consolidation among a small pool of specialist operators. With Matchbook also running the easyBet brand alongside easyGroup and its ADI PredictStreet prediction markets platform, the group is positioning itself as the consolidator of choice in a segment where scale increasingly determines competitiveness.
Readers tracking related licensing and market-entry developments can find further coverage in our industry news section.
Sources
- SBC News – Matchbook builds on prediction markets momentum with Betdaq takeover
- Racing Post – Matchbook completes acquisition of fellow betting exchange Betdaq for undisclosed sum
- NEXT.io – Matchbook acquires Dermot Desmond’s Betdaq for undisclosed sum
- Gaming.net – Matchbook Completes Acquisition of Betdaq Brand and Domains
- G3 Newswire – Matchbook acquires Betdaq uniting two of the longest-established names in exchange betting
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