TLDR
- Matchbook has completed its acquisition of Betdaq, the betting exchange founded by Dermot Desmond.
- The financial terms of the deal were not made public.
- Matchbook says combining the two exchanges will create a deeper pool with tighter spreads and better prices.
- The current Betdaq service will stay open for trading until October 21, 2026.
- Betdaq customers can withdraw their money until November 4, 2026.
Matchbook, a peer-to-peer betting exchange and market technology business, has completed its acquisition of Betdaq. Betdaq is an exchange that was founded by Dermot Desmond.
The company announced the deal on October 14, 2026. The financial terms of the transaction were not made public.
Matchbook said the purchase deepens its liquidity. It also said the deal is consistent with its overall strategy.
Two Long-Running Betting Exchanges Join Together
Betdaq was founded in 2000. Matchbook noted that it is one of the first betting exchanges ever created, with over two decades of experience in the sector.
Matchbook also has a long history. The company has offered betting exchange products for more than 20 years.
According to Matchbook, the deal will pair “Betdaq’s heritage with Matchbook’s pricing, liquidity, and technology expertise.” The company said this will create a “single, deeper pool.”
Matchbook said customers should benefit from tighter spreads, bigger fills, and better prices as a result.
The company said the transaction aligns with the global growth of the peer-to-peer betting model. It added that this growth has been further highlighted by the fast expansion of the prediction markets sector.
Matchbook CEO Says Customer Safety Comes First
Ronan McDonagh, chief executive officer of Matchbook, said both companies share the same mission of giving customers better deals. He added that the transaction fully fits with that goal.
“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,” McDonagh said.
He also said that everything the company is doing, including this deal, is about making the exchange the first choice for customers.
Matchbook has recently been growing its business. The company has struck deals with easyBet and ADI PredictStreet.
It has also been looking at launching a prediction market in the UK since 2025. That was when the company began searching for ways to speed up its growth.
Both companies said they are committed to an orderly transition. More details about key dates and customer matters are available on Betdaq’s official website.
The current Betdaq service is operated by EPS. It will remain open for trading until October 21, 2026.
Customers will be able to withdraw their money until November 4, 2026. Matchbook said customers will remain fully protected during this period, in line with both companies’ responsibility commitments.
