Betfair brings its Canadian operations to a halt

It has been reported that Betfair it is to withdraw its services from Canada with near immediate effect; all services will be concluded by January 14th.

The gambling operator sent out an email during the Christmas period to its customers informing them that residents of Canada would no longer be allowed to place bets, and that gaming services would also be blocked.

No official reason for this decision has been announced by the company, though it’s being speculated that the pending merger with Paddy Power is the motivation. The Irish bookmaker withdrew its services from Canada back in 2011.

Betfair’s customers in Canada were told that any outstanding bets with them would be cancelled, and that they should withdraw any remaining cash or winnings by January 14th or they’ll need to go through the helpdesk to access their funds.