22 October 2026 | iGaming Industry News |
In one of the more significant acquisitions in the betting exchange sector in recent years, Matchbook has completed its takeover of rival Betdaq, bringing together two of the industry’s most established betting exchanges.
The acquisition represents a major step forward for Matchbook as it looks to capitalise on the growing popularity of peer-to-peer betting and strengthen its position within the UK betting exchange market.
Betdaq’s existing service will remain operational during the transition period, with customers able to make final withdrawals until 4 November.
One of the main benefits highlighted by Matchbook is the prospect of improved liquidity across its betting markets. By combining the two exchanges, the operator aims to provide customers with access to a deeper pool of liquidity, allowing them to place larger bets at more competitive odds.
Matchbook CEO Ronan McDonagh explained that the acquisition was driven by the company’s ambition to make exchange betting the preferred choice for bettors.
He said:
“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.
“A quarter of a century on, that idea is winning exchanges and prediction markets are bringing peer-to-peer pricing to new audiences around the world, and this acquisition deepens the pool at the heart of everything we build.
“Our first priority through this transition is Betdaq’s customers: their funds are safe, their options are clear, and in one combined pool they should find better prices and deeper liquidity than either exchange could offer alone.”
The acquisition comes at a time when interest in peer-to-peer betting continues to grow globally, with prediction markets also experiencing significant expansion, particularly in the United States.
Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket have helped bring greater attention to market-based pricing models, highlighting the increasing appetite for alternatives to traditional bookmaker-led betting.
While betting exchanges and prediction markets operate under different regulatory frameworks, both demonstrate the growing interest in platforms where prices are determined by market participants rather than traditional bookmaker margins.
It promises to be an interesting period for Matchbook as the company looks to build on this acquisition, attract new customers and strengthen its position against Betfair Exchange, which remains the dominant player in the UK betting exchange market.
With increased liquidity and the potential for more competitive odds, the combined Matchbook and Betdaq operation could provide stronger competition within the sector in the years ahead.
