Straight talk first. Matchbook is blocked in Ireland, so a direct bet is off the table. And here's the part people don't expect: the brokers that serve Irish punters no longer route to it either. So while I'd normally point you at a broker, for Matchbook specifically that door has closed. The good news is the exchange itself, betting directly against other punters, is still very much reachable. You just do it on Betfair or 9wickets instead. Let me explain where things actually stand.
Matchbook is a well-regarded platform with a full menu of back and lay betting. It's above board in most places. Ireland just isn't one of them, because online gambling here runs under a heavy regulatory hand and the site isn't cleared for direct access.
In the old days the answer for an Irish punter would have been simple: go through a sports betting broker.
That's no longer true, unfortunately. The brokers open to Irish players have stopped offering Matchbook. What they can still get you onto is the exchange via Betfair or 9wickets, using the brokers below:
| Rank | Why? | Discover |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | This bookmaker will allow you to bet on betting exchanges at reduced costs and to bet on the biggest Asian bookmakers with a tool to select the best odds in real time. | Go |
| 2 | It is the most reputable and secure bookmaker that accepts the Irish. It allows you to bet with the best odds in real time among the best Asian bookmakers. | Go |
It's the go-between that stands between you and the bookmakers. The job is to dig out the best odds for your bets, and to do that it works the various books to land the better deals. Bookmakers aren't always thrilled about it (a broker chipping away at their edge doesn't help their margins), yet the relationship usually runs smoothly and both sides get something out of it.
On top of the price-hunting, a broker hands you tools for spotting the best live odds and, crucially, a way onto exchange platforms like Betfair.
For a lot of punters, it's among the best out there, and I'd not argue. The odds are keen, the interface is easy to live with whether you're new or seasoned, and the market selection is broad enough to keep you busy. It has earned its reputation, which is exactly why the block stings.
It's peer-to-peer betting: you bet against other users rather than the house. You can take a market as it stands or post your own bet for someone else to match. Matchbook makes its money by taking a commission on what users win, which is the standard exchange model.
For the record, it started up in 2004 and is based in Gibraltar. It's owned by IG Group, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Want to bet on a betting exchange from a restricted country and do back and lay? Here are the brokers that allow it:
| Rank | Why? | Discover |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | This bookmaker will allow you to bet on betting exchanges at reduced costs and to bet on the biggest Asian bookmakers with a tool to select the best odds in real time. | Go |
| 2 | It is the most reputable and secure bookmaker that accepts the Irish. It allows you to bet with the best odds in real time among the best Asian bookmakers. | Go |
