Matchbook has successfully acquired Betdaq, a significant move that the company claims will enhance its liquidity and take advantage of the growing trend in peer-to-peer betting. The acquisition was made public on Wednesday, signaling a merger between two of the oldest operators in the betting exchange arena. Matchbook emphasized that this agreement demonstrates its long-term dedication to the sector.
To facilitate a seamless transition, Betdaq’s existing service will continue to operate until October 21, with players able to withdraw funds until November 4.
By merging the two platforms, Matchbook anticipates that customers will enjoy benefits including increased liquidity, tighter spreads, and larger bets being matched at their preferred prices.
Ronan McDonagh, Matchbook’s CEO, spoke about the acquisition's significance, stating it would bolster the company’s goal to position exchange betting as the top choice for bettors. “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 explained.
He further added that after twenty-five years, the concept is thriving: “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 rise of peer-to-peer betting, especially in the United States, has gained significant traction, with prediction market operators like Kalshi and Polymarket creating substantial impacts. Established in 2004, Matchbook has been actively seeking ways to capitalize on this momentum, branching out beyond traditional betting models.
In 2024, Matchbook formed a partnership with EasyGroup, the parent company of EasyJet, to launch a new betting exchange brand known as EasyBet. Furthermore, the company has expanded into prediction markets, aligning with ADI PredictStreet, the official predictions partner for the 2026 World Cup.
