This week, the iGaming market saw significant fluctuations, with Russia leading the gains at +79.9%. This rebound followed a sharp decline of -66.9% last week, which was linked to the introduction of a nationwide self-exclusion system for gambling.
Other notable gainers included Belarus, Peru, Bolivia, and Pennsylvania, bolstered by recent regulatory developments and active sports schedules. In contrast, the market faced declines in Vietnam, Poland, Chile, Italy, and Bulgaria, all affected by recent enforcement actions and regulatory news.
**Top 5 Gainers of the Week**
**Russia (+79.9%)**
Russia's impressive comeback to +79.9% comes after its launch of a nationwide voluntary gambling self-exclusion system on September 1. This initiative continued to attract attention throughout the week, indicating a rebound in interest following the initial drop related to the system's introduction.
**Belarus (+64.7%)**
In Belarus, gambling activities surged, particularly after strict government action against gambling advertisements. The local operator Maxline drew significant commentary following a controversial advertisement featuring a goose. President Aleksandr Lukashenko criticized the operator on September 11, claiming that the country has become a casino due to such marketing efforts.
**Peru (+62.8%)**
In Peru, domestic football has driven increased gambling activity. Liga 1 Torneo Clausura Matchday 9 took place from September 11 to September 13, highlighted by the September 12 match where Universitario defeated Alianza Lima in Clásico.
**Bolivia (+57.2%)**
Football remained the primary source of gambling interest in Bolivia. On September 9, Real Oruro faced Nacional Potosí in the Copa de la División Profesional, while several Primera División matches were played on September 13 and 14. As the domestic title race develops, Bolívar started the week with 39 points, capturing fans' focus.
**US-Pennsylvania (+43.7%)**
Pennsylvania benefitted from the kickoff of NFL Week 1, which proved to be a significant driver for gambling. On September 13, the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field, prompting sportsbooks across the state to roll out various promotional offers.
**Top 5 Decliners of the Week**
**Vietnam (-26.2%)**
Vietnam's decline can be traced to ongoing legal repercussions linked to XoilacTV. Reports emerged on September 9 that 74 individuals faced prosecution over copyright infringement, illegal gambling operations, and distributing immoral content. Investigations revealed that the network had streamed 1,529 football matches without authorization and generated substantial income from promoting online gambling platforms.
**Poland (-24.8%)**
Poland faced increased scrutiny over illicit gambling transactions. The BLIK payment-blocking measures implemented on September 1 aimed to curb illegal gambling services, drawing the government's focus.
**Chile (-24.5%)**
Chile's gambling index fell after a surge spurred by Subtel's September 1 DNS-blocking order against illegal betting sites.
**Italy (-22.1%)**
In Italy, the ADM (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli) remained embroiled in disputes with Lega Serie A concerning the handling of True Data.
**Bulgaria (-15.7%)**
Bulgaria experienced a decrease following public interest in mandatory gambling affiliate licensing regulations, which took effect on September 1.
**Market Analysis: Russia (+79.9%)**
This week marked a significant upward shift for Russia as the Blask Index, which previously dropped by 66.9% from August 31 to September 6, rebounded by 79.9%. Central to this movement was the voluntary self-exclusion program launched nationwide on September 1, which has seen 717 requests for self-exclusion by September 6, according to an update from the Ministry of Economic Development on September 8. The future of this growth may depend on whether it reflects genuine interest in self-exclusion or simply the aftermath of the initial decline in participation. If the index continues to rise independently of fluctuations in self-exclusion applications, it could suggest a shift in interest within the legal, regulated market.
