The company behind the easyJet airline has partnered with Matchbook to launch a new peer-to-peer sports betting service: easyBet.
This is starting out as a sports betting service, but confusingly there is already an easyBet up and running South Africa. That’s a full service online casino running under the easybet.co.za domain, but this is not part of the easyGroup and is not affiliated with them in any way, according to company sources.
Back in 1995, easyJet launched to a massive fanfare as it brought European flights for the price of bus tickets to the masses and made air travel more affordable. The easyGroup followed with a series of separate brands for budget hotels, car hire, real estate and internet cafes. A quality service for the lowest possible price has been the cornerstone of the brand since the start.
Now the famously outspoken group founder believes the sports betting market is ripe for disruption thanks to peer-to-peer betting that effectively lets people set their own odds.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou said: “We are delighted to welcome EasyBet.net to the ‘easy’ family of brands which is a natural new market to complement our other large consumer brands in the UK and Ireland.
“Launched at the beginning of October 2024, easyBet offers Peer to Peer betting with the aim of giving customers fairer odds than traditional bookmakers. It allows you to bet on sports events – you can back what you think will win or lay what you think will lose. We believe this model offers fairer odds to the consumer.”
Matchbook CEO Malcolm Graham added: “Matchbook is delighted to be partnering with the easyGroup to offer its betting exchange product. The ‘easy’ brand is renowned for consistently supplying quality and value to its customers.
“EasyBet.net offers its customers industry leading odds across a wide range of sports, and geographic markets, offering a top-tier user experience. We are also thrilled that we will be supporting Stelios’ philanthropic activities via the license fees being paid to EasyGroup.”