Matchbook swallows Betdaq, UK down to four big exchanges
Betdaq, founded by Dermot Desmond in 2000, has been bought by rival exchange Matchbook.
The hit
Matchbook has taken over rival exchange Betdaq, according to SBC News, cutting the UK’s major betting exchanges down to four. The remaining three are Betfair Exchange, Spreadex & Smarkets. Matchbook ties the deal to growing global demand for prediction markets & peer-to-peer betting models.
Why it matters
Matchbook says combining its pricing, liquidity & technology with Betdaq’s status as a heritage betting exchange brand should produce tighter prices & deeper markets, according to the company. Betdaq users lose a standalone platform they may have used for years.
The record
| Matchbook founded | 2004, headquartered in Alderney, Channel Islands |
|---|---|
| Betdaq founded | 2000, in Dublin |
| Prediction markets platform launch | December 2025, first UK firm to launch one |
| World Cup prediction market deal | June 2026, white label with ADI Predictstreet |
What happens next
Betdaq customers can trade until 21 October 2026 & withdraw funds until 4 November 2026, according to Matchbook, which says customer funds remain protected under regulatory obligations during the transition.
Sources: Matchbook acquires fellow heritage betting exchange Betdaq
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