Matchbook withdraws from Canada
Exchange operator cites "commercial reasons" as it stops accepting bets from Canada-based customers as of today
Matchbook will today stop accepting bets from customers based in Canada as part of the operator’s plans to focus its attention on other markets.
Triplebet, owners and operators of the Matchbook brand, informed customers of its decision earlier this week after undertaking “a comprehensive review of all operations”.
All open bets will be honoured with customers given one month to withdraw funds from their accounts, after which all funds will be returned automatically on 22 August.
Speaking to eGaming Review this morning Paul McGuinness, head of brand strategy at Matchbook, said the decision was “purely commercial” as the operator looked to concentrate on other markets.
Canada continues to be a grey market for sports betting operators, despite previous bills in the country seeking to legalise the vertical.
Bill C-290 sought to legalise single-event sports betting in the country and was approved by Canada’s House of Commons in March 2012, before being passed for discussion by the country’s Senate in November 2012.
But the Bill subsequently stalled after concerns were raised by professional sports leagues in the country, and in February this year Senate leader Claude Carignan confirmed that there had been no more progress regarding the Bill’s passing into law.
Earlier this year, online payments company Skrill stopped processing money transfers related to online betting in Canada following “a review of its operations” which would see it place greater emphasis on the US market.