Betfair goes full Grinch, exits Canada

Canadian sports bettors may exchange gifts this Christmas, but they won’t be exchanging wagers much longer after Betfair announced its intention to quit the Canadian market.

On Wednesday, Betfair’s Canadian customers reported receiving email notices that the betting exchange would “no longer be available to residents of Canada” as of midday (UK time) on Jan .14, 2016.

Customers have been advised to withdraw their account balances before that date, after which they’ll have to go through the hassle of contacting the site’s help desk to obtain their funds.

As of Jan. 14, Betfair says fixed-odds sportsbook bets, exchange bets and all gaming products will be inaccessible by Canadian customers. Canadian residents will also be blocked if they try to access the site when they’re outside Canada, which only serves to deepen the grinchy-greenish hue currently enveloping Betfair CEO Breon Corcoran (pictured).