Matchbook acquires Betdaq to become Europe's second-largest exchange

Matchbook has completed a takeover of Betdaq, consolidating the UK betting exchange market to four major operators and establishing Matchbook as the largest exchange platform outside Betfair.

The deal follows Matchbook's expansion into prediction markets and represents the most significant structural change to the UK exchange sector in over a decade. Betdaq, founded in 2000, had operated as an independent exchange and held a meaningful share of the European market before the acquisition.

The consolidation leaves Betfair, Matchbook-Betdaq, Smarkets, and Matchbook's remaining competitors as the principal venues for exchange-based wagering in the UK. Regulatory clearance details were not disclosed in the announcement.

For prediction market operators tracking the UK and European regulatory environment, the acquisition concentrates liquidity at a moment when exchange-based models are under active scrutiny from gaming authorities across multiple jurisdictions. A smaller number of larger operators changes how regulators calculate systemic risk and which venues draw enforcement attention first.