Matchbook completes Betdaq takeover as Betdaq exchange prepares to close

Betting exchange Matchbook has completed its acquisition of rival peer-to-peer exchange Betdaq. The price has not been disclosed. Matchbook says combining the two platforms will create a single, deeper pool of liquidity, which it expects to mean tighter spreads and better prices for customers of both.

What Betdaq customers need to know

Betdaq, operated by EPS Ltd, will continue trading until 21 October to allow an orderly transition. Customers can withdraw funds until 4 November, and from 5 November the site will show a closure message. Betdaq customers who want to keep using the exchange will need to open a Matchbook account.

Background

Betdaq was founded 26 years ago by Irish businessman Dermot Desmond. Ladbrokes bought it in 2013 for €30m, and Entain sold it back to Desmond in 2021. Matchbook, operated by Triplebet, has since expanded into B2B services and soft-launched a UK event contracts product in late 2025.

Matchbook chief executive Ronan McDonagh said the deal, like the rest of the company's plans, is aimed at making the exchange customers' first choice.

A smaller field of exchanges

According to EGR, the deal leaves Smarkets as the only other established challenger to Betfair in the British exchange market. It comes as UK gambling duties rise: remote gaming duty has nearly doubled to 40%, and remote betting duty is set to increase from 15% to 25% next April.