Canadian sports, gaming and entertainment company Fans Unite has acquired online Scottish bookmaker McBookie.com in a deal worth $2.2m. McBookie was launched 11 years ago by ex-Tote employees Damian Walker and Paul Petrie to service the Scottish-betting marketplace.

The deal is a good fit for both parties. Dundee-based McBookie.com now has the backing to forge ahead with ambitious expansion plans, while recently floated Fans Unite can tick off its first major acquisition.

Petrie said: “We have always believed in the huge potential of the McBookie brand and the investment from Fans Unite will finally allow us to fulfil that. These are exciting times ahead and Damian and I will remain as directors and continue to run day-to-day operations.”

Fans Unite, specializing in developing cutting-edge technologies in the sports and gaming sector, launched on the Canadian stock market on May 5. CEO Darius Eghdami said: “McBookie is our first major acquisition and we are really excited about the massive potential for growth for the brand. The Scottish betting market is a significant one and we aim to greatly increase McBookie’s market share.”

McBookie, meanwhile, has been a big supporter of grass-roots football with its continued sponsorship of the Scottish Junior Leagues and will also be looking for future openings and partnerships as it looks to grow.

Petrie added: “McBookie has a very strong brand and with the added marketing resources behind us we see lots of great opportunities ahead. The Scottish sports betting market is still largely undervalued by the big operators, who at best treat Scottish customers as an afterthought, whereas we will continue to put them at the front and centre of our offering.”