Matchbook today (14 October) announced its acquisition of Dermot Desmond’s Betdaq for an undisclosed sum.
The existing Betdaq service, operated by EPS Ltd, will remain open for trading until 21 October to allow an orderly transition. Customer accounts will be open for withdrawals until 4 November.
It follows Desmond, currently listed as Ireland’s ninth richest person, founding the business in 2000. At the time, the company was among one of the earlier betting exchanges in the world.
“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,” Matchbook CEO Ronan McDonagh said.
“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. This acquisition deepens the pool at the heart of everything we build.”
Matchbook emphasised customers funds will be protected in-line with operator regulator obligations, with Betdaq’s website listing the relevant dates.
More opportunities for Matchbook
The deal was highlighted as aiming to combine Betdaq’s heritage with Matchbook’s pricing, liquidity and tech expertise in a single, deeper pool, which the business said would mean tighter spreads, bigger fills and better prices for customers.
Matchbook also highlighted the acquisition comes as the peer-to-peer model enjoys renewed momentum worldwide, with exchange betting and prediction markets – particularly in the US – bringing market-made pricing to new audiences.
Matchbook has operated exchange markets for more than 20 years and has expanded in recent years through easyBet, its partnership with easyGroup, and ADI PredictStreet, its entry into prediction markets around the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“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. “Everything we are doing – this deal included – is about making the exchange first choice.”
Dingnews.com 15/10/2026