Spreadex Looks to Sell its Sporting Index After Scrutiny

Spreadex was founded in 1999 in the UK and has since been a key name in terms of sports betting and fixed odds betting services. The company offers Financial spread betting too, allowing clients to bet on the direction of the price movements within the stock market as well as offering a range of typical online casino games.

Back in November of 2023, the French lottery giant Française des Jeux (FDJ) sold its spread betting operator Sporting Index to its rival Spreadex and only a few months later in February of this year, the CMA launched an inquiry into the merger. In the spring of 2024, the CMA concluded that this deal may have created a monopoly in the market by removing the only other licensed spread better.

Richard Feasey, who is the chair of CMA, said: “This deal eliminates competition in the supply of licensed online sports spread betting services in the UK” and have ruled that Spreadex should sell its Sporting Index as to give customers a fairer and less biased experience. The CMA raised concerns about reduced competition in the sports spread betting market, potentially leading to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.

Spreadex’s annual financial report was published earlier in the year and saw the company generating over £100m in revenue for the financial year ending in May, marking a 16% year-on-year increase. The CMA panel have ruled that with Spreadex selling their sporting index, this shall fix any concerns with competition and offer a wider range of options for consumers in terms of price and variety. Saying “It is important that customers can rely on competition in the market to keep odds competitive.”