From July 6 to July 12, the iGaming market saw significant shifts driven primarily by regulatory changes rather than World Cup activities. Although the World Cup approached its finale, the most notable market fluctuations stemmed from legal evaluations, enforcement initiatives, and new gambling legislation.
The market experienced a downturn, largely attributed to event-related declines and natural corrections following heightened interest around the World Cup. For example, Bolivia, Japan, and Paraguay saw a drop from the pre-World Cup spikes. Mali recorded the week's most substantial decrease without any discernible local cause, while Costa Rica's decline persisted for no clear reason.
**Top 5 Gainers of the Week**
– **South Korea (+90.8%)**
South Korea reported the most significant growth among markets tracked by Blask, driven by ongoing uncertainty regarding prediction markets. The Broadcasting, Media and Communications Review Committee announced on July 10 that it will review the legal status of Polymarket, influencing market interest considerably.
– **Turkey (+49.0%)**
Turkey marked its second consecutive week as a top gainer, up from a prior increase of +28.4%. This trend suggests that enforcement actions could be fostering heightened search activity regarding regulatory changes within the gambling sector.
– **Malaysia (+24.5%)**
Malaysia’s growth continued for a second week, following a +24.8% rise previously. This upward trend was primarily driven by Operation Op Soga XI, a nationwide campaign against illegal betting in conjunction with the World Cup.
– **Bangladesh (+20.9%)**
Bangladesh entered the list of leading gainers following the implementation of the Gambling Prevention Act, 2026, on July 1. This growth, unlike typical sports-driven increases, is due to regulatory changes and rising interest regarding the evolving market landscape.
– **Ukraine (+20.4%)**
Ukraine experienced growth fueled more by regulatory advancements than its involvement in the World Cup.
**Top 5 Decliners of the Week**
– **Mali (-55.2%)**
Mali faced the largest drop of the week, with no identifiable local triggers during the reporting period of July 6–12. This decline appears to reflect a continuing trend rather than an immediate event.
– **Bolivia (-42.9%)**
Bolivia saw a reversal from a previous gain of +51.7%, coinciding with the conclusion of the World Cup demand cycle. On July 6, a raid led by the AJ regulatory authority in Cochabamba resulted in the seizure of five illegal machines, contributing to the decrease but not fully accounting for it.
– **Japan (-29.9%)**
Japan’s decline followed a +47.5% spike after their memorable Round of 32 match against Brazil, which no longer held significant relevance post-elimination from the World Cup.
– **Paraguay (-27.6%)**
Paraguay mirrored this trend, experiencing a slump following their exit from the World Cup after losing to France, which brought an end to the surge in betting interest after their previous victory over Germany.
– **Costa Rica (-25.5%)**
Costa Rica's drop likewise continued despite a lack of notable events to trigger it, appearing to be a natural reprisal following the earlier World Cup-induced gains.
**Market Spotlight: South Korea (+90.8%)**
The most pronounced shift was observed in South Korea, where regulatory ambiguity combined with stricter enforcement impacted market dynamics. The evaluation of Polymarket began on July 10 to decide its alignment with local gambling regulations, amid broader efforts to counter illegal betting related to the World Cup, including website blocking and public awareness campaigns.
