In the week leading up to August 30, 2026, various factors including domestic soccer, substantial lottery jackpots, and a busy sports calendar influenced the iGaming market. Kansas led in growth among the states, reporting an impressive increase of 78.5%. Cyprus followed closely with a gain of 48.7%, thanks in part to a €5.4 million Joker jackpot and the kick-off of the national soccer league season.
The surge in earnings was largely attributed to sporting events. Countries such as North Macedonia, Colombia, Tanzania, Spain, South Africa, Namibia, and Pakistan saw positive developments, benefiting from an influx of soccer, cricket, and rugby matches. Notably, some nations recorded increases in earnings regardless of the specific events that occurred.
Conversely, Turkey faced the most significant decline, with a drop of 34.8%, despite having a full slate of Süper Lig championship games. Quebec also saw a decrease, likely due to the resetting of its C$55 million Lotto Max lottery prize. Russia continued its downturn after an earlier 134.0% surge, while Switzerland adjusted following a previous increase of 40.3%.
**Top 5 Gainers of the Week**
– **U.S.-Kansas (+78.5%)**
Kansas experienced the highest rise, spurred by local sporting events that coincided in Kansas City. The Kansas City Royals significantly contributed to this, achieving a nine-game winning streak that ended on August 26 before restarting with a dominating 13–2 victory over Toronto and back-to-back wins against Cleveland on August 28 and 29. Additionally, a Kansas Powerball ticket won $50,000 on August 24, generating heightened local interest.
– **Cyprus (+48.7%)**
Cyprus saw substantial gains largely due to simultaneous gambling events. The Joker draw on August 27 failed to produce a first-tier winner, increasing the jackpot to €5.54 million for the next draw on August 30. Concurrently, the Cyprus League by Stoiximan commenced its new season on August 28, featuring six matches, including three derbies during the initial weekend.
– **North Macedonia (+30.7%)**
North Macedonia's growth can be attributed solely to the commencement of the domestic football season, as there were no other significant regulatory changes or lottery draws during the reporting period.
– **Colombia (+26.4%)**
Colombia experienced a second consecutive increase after a previous 27.9% rise. The Liga BetPlay resumed following a hiatus from an earthquake, with Matchday 8 occurring on August 26 and additional matches on August 29 and 30, indicating a steady return of domestic football rather than a response to a specific new event.
– **Tanzania (+26%)**
Tanzania’s football schedule featured notable matchups, with Young Africans recording a 4-0 win over JKT Tanzania on August 24 and a subsequent 2-0 victory against Pamba Jiji on August 28. Both they and rival club Simba performed consistently, winning all their matches thus far in the NBC Premier League.
**Top 5 Decliners of the Week**
– **Turkey (–34.8%)**
Despite a full slate of Süper Lig matches, Turkey recorded a significant drop. Galatasaray lost to Göztepe (3:2), and Başakşehir drew with Kasımpaşa (1:1), indicating that the volume of matches was not sufficient to counter the decline.
– **Canadian Province – Quebec (–23.6%)**
Quebec’s market dipped following the recent C$55 million Lotto Max jackpot reset on August 21. With a fixed amount of C$10 million for August 25, the aim was to stabilize demand after an unusually large jackpot.
– **Russia (–22.5%)**
Russia's index continued to fall after the previous month’s notable increase. Although a significant match between CSKA and Lokomotiv and another between Spartak and Zenit occurred, they did not spur comparable interest this time, marking two consecutive weeks of decline.
– **Canadian Province – Alberta (–17.8%)**
Alberta's market decline occurred, despite some growth from privately-owned online operators. BetRivers plans to partner with two Gateway casinos, with reminders from authorities about provincial regulations on sports betting.
– **Switzerland (–14.9%)**
Switzerland could not sustain its upward momentum from earlier, when it saw a growth of 40.3%. The previous increase correlated with Matchday 4 of the Swiss Super League, while the latest week included a significant match between Young Boys and Basel on August 29.
**Market Spotlight: (Cyprus +48.7%)**
Cyprus marked one of the highest growth rates of the week due to the overlap of two gambling events. The Joker lottery saw no major winner in draw 3111 on August 27, resulting in a jackpot of €5.54 million for the next round. Additionally, the Cyprus League by Stoiximan began on August 28, featuring multiple enticing matchups.
The success of Cyprus is multifaceted. The rising interest can be attributed to the Joker lottery's high jackpot while the ongoing local tournament increased betting activities. Looking ahead, the next Joker draw is scheduled for September 1, with Matchday 2 of the league set for September 4-7. A consistent performance could indicate sustained interest, while a decline may suggest the recent uptick was an isolated event.
