Matchbook consolidates exchange market amid prediction boom

Matchbook has completed its acquisition of rival betting exchange Betdaq, combining two established operators as the company looks to build liquidity amid renewed interest in peer-to-peer wagering.

The transaction brings together businesses that have operated in the exchange market for more than two decades, with Matchbook expecting the combined platform to offer tighter spreads, larger matched bets and improved pricing for customers.

Betdaq’s existing service will remain available until October 21, while customers will have until November 4 to withdraw funds as the transition is completed.

Matchbook chief executive Ronan McDonagh said the acquisition would strengthen the company’s ambition to make exchange wagering a preferred option for bettors, with the combined liquidity pool expected to improve the customer experience.

McDonagh said the two businesses had long shared the principle that market-set prices could offer bettors a better deal than traditional bookmaker margins, adding that the growth of exchanges and prediction markets was introducing peer-to-peer pricing to new audiences.

The acquisition comes amid increased attention on prediction markets in the United States, where platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket have expanded the reach of event-based wagering and market-driven pricing.

Established in 2004, Matchbook has pursued opportunities outside conventional exchange betting, partnering with EasyGroup in 2024 to launch EasyBet and later joining forces with ADI PredictStreet, the official predictions partner for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Betdaq deal adds scale to those efforts as Matchbook seeks to capitalise on the expanding interest in peer-to-peer betting and strengthen its position in a market increasingly shaped by exchanges and prediction platforms.