The iGaming market underwent notable shifts from the previous week, moving away from the strong performances seen in the CIS and Baltic nations. Russia experienced a decline of 7.8% after a significant surge of 134%, while Lithuania saw a drop of 9.1%, following a 50.2% increase the prior week. Other countries, including Tajikistan, Slovakia, and Latvia, mirrored this downward trend after prior gains.
This week's growth was primarily driven by scheduled competitions. Switzerland emerged as a leader, with a remarkable increase of 40.3%, a rise sparked by Super League Matchday 4. Colombia also posted a 27.9% gain, boosted by the resumption of Liga BetPlay after a hiatus due to the earthquake on August 10. Conversely, Ukraine faced a 12.8% decline, as the situation remained under observation by Cosmobet.
**Top 5 Gainers of the Week**
– **Switzerland (+40.3%)**: The Swiss market thrived due to Super League Matchday 4, occurring on August 22-23. The match where Young Boys triumphed over Vaduz 4-2 garnered significant attention, placing Young Boys at the top of the table. The robust domestic schedule and critical matches this season heightened betting interest.
– **Sierra Leone (+38.1%)**: The resurgence of the European soccer season positively influenced Sierra Leone's market, increasing betting activities across several West African nations. The rise is partly attributed to a low previous week figure, significant in a country reliant on betting shops.
– **Colombia (+27.9%)**: The return of Liga BetPlay 2026-II, following a week-long suspension due to the earthquake, revitalized betting. Matches on August 22-23 included notable games such as Santa Fe vs América de Cali and Nacional vs Fortaleza, generating strong betting engagement.
– **Senegal (+25.7%)**: Following the announcement of the Ligue 1 schedule for the 2026-27 season on August 22, combined with the European football restart, Senegal attracted increased betting interest in the West African region.
– **Sweden (+24.7%)**: Sweden recovered from an 11.4% decline the previous week, with Allsvenskan Matchday 20 happening on August 17-18, featuring teams like Malmö FF and AIK.
**Top 5 Decliners of the Week**
– **Ukraine (-12.8%)**: The continued scrutiny from Cosmobet and concerns over alleged ownership ties to Russia contributed to Ukraine's declining market, alongside broader challenges from war-related gambling restrictions.
– **Uzbekistan (-11%)**: After an initial spike following the issuance of betting licenses to Olimpbet and Aurum Vale on July 31, Uzbekistan's market corrected, as players began to preference licensed operators while still favoring offshore options.
– **Lithuania (-9.1%)**: Despite a previous gain of over 50%, Lithuania saw a decline of 9.1%. This drop occurred despite positive overall market fundamentals, indicating more a momentum correction rather than a significant weakening in performance, with gross gaming revenue reported at EUR 153.6 million for the first half of 2026.
– **Tajikistan (-8.6%)**: Tajikistan corrected itself from a previous report indicating a substantial spike of 37.8%.
– **Russia (-7.8%)**: The latest decline for Russia follows last week’s impressive surge, representing a typical mean-reversion pattern in the market.
**Market Spotlight: Switzerland (+40.3%)**
Switzerland claimed the highest growth this past week, buoyed by Super League Matchday 4. The games held over August 22-23 amplified interest, particularly with Young Boys securing a win against Vaduz to lead the table with 10 points from four matches. The influx of domestic games boosted betting activity as the 2026/27 season began to unfold. The structured nature of the market means that domestic sports are especially relevant for licensed companies, with online betting occurring legitimately while offshore access remains limited by DNS blocking. This heightened interest is expected to continue leading into the next reporting period, especially with the significant Young Boys-Basel match slated for August 29.
