Blask’s recent analysis of the iGaming market reveals notable shifts in player demand across significant regions. In Turkey, a sharp decline in offshore betting searches has been reported, following a major crackdown by authorities, while the Philippines has surged ahead of Brazil in global search demand metrics.
On October 13, Turkey's Blask Index dropped an astonishing 68% from 1.50 million to 483,000. This drop coincided with the Interior Ministry's announcement of the arrest of 102 individuals involved in an illegal betting operation. Over the subsequent six days, demand for brands categorized under Blask’s Offshore group plummeted by two-thirds on average. Conversely, the demand for brands in the Mixed group, which includes popular betting platforms such as Nesine and Iddaa, saw a 29% increase.
The crackdown involved the gendarmerie and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), who identified significant financial movements linked to illegal activities, amounting to ₺8.5 billion ($171.5 million). The data indicates that the downturn in the offshore sector began on the day of the announcement, with search interest dropping to between 441,000 and 600,000 daily from October 13 to 18.
Before this announcement, the Offshore group recorded daily averages of 963,000 searches. This figure starkly contrasted with the average of 322,000 searches seen post-announcement. In contrast, the Mixed group rose from 155,000 to 200,000 searches a day, significantly increasing its share of the daily index from 10-16% to 35-47% during the same period.
Looking at broader trends, the weekend prior to the crackdown was unusually busy, pushing the pre-announcement peak well above the median of about 729,000 searches a day noted in late September to early October. The average demand in the following days reflects a decrease of approximately 28% compared to that median.
Initial data from October 19 hints that the Offshore group’s demand may be stabilizing, but football activities, such as Turkey’s Süper Lig matches, might also influence these trends.
In a significant turn, the Philippines emerged as the leading market by iGaming search demand in September 2026, surpassing Brazil, which historically led in demand figures. Although Brazil continues to maintain a higher projected revenue, marked by a substantial 53% difference in estimated revenue metrics between the two countries, the growth trend for the Philippines remains substantial. The Philippine market grew 8% from August and an impressive 87% from September 2025. In stark contrast, Brazil's iGaming demand fell 9% month-over-month and 31% year-over-year.
The Brazilian market's contraction came amid regulatory changes, including the Chamber of Deputies’ publication of Provisional Measure 1394/26, which halted new deposits on licensed platforms on September 28. The impact of this regulation contributed to the change in rankings.
Meanwhile, Africa experienced a remarkable 19% increase in iGaming search demand in September 2026, setting a new record that surpassed previous highs from December 2025. This surge involved contributions from countries like Tanzania, Nigeria, and Mozambique. The region’s projected revenue benchmark also hit a new record of $765.6 million, illustrating a strong recovery trend as the market approaches its historically peak months.
In Alberta, licensed brands accounted for 64% of the region's iGaming search demand by September 2026, though they represented only 36% of projected revenue. The province’s regulatory shift on July 13 allowed private operators to enter the market, but PlayAlberta, the previous primary operator, retained a strong foothold in brand recognition and demand share.
Finally, Pragmatic Play made a significant impact in the casino games market, claiming six of the top ten positions in visibility rankings during Q3 2026. The Gates of Olympus series led this category, demonstrating the diverse dynamics in player preferences across various regions.
