In the latest weekly update from the iGaming sector, Finland has emerged as a standout performer with a remarkable 29.3% increase, largely fueled by the surging Eurojackpot. Ireland also saw a notable gain of 9.3%. However, Stake restricted access to Irish users due to engagement with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), a story that surfaced mid-week.
Turkey's iGaming sector enjoyed a boost as well, posting a 25.9% growth, coinciding with the third round of the Turkish Super League, which yielded a series of surprising outcomes and sparked increased sports-related searches.
**Top 5 Gainers of the Week**
– **Finland (+29.3%)**: The Eurojackpot, operated by Veikkaus and based in Helsinki, reached a prize pool of approximately €48 million prior to its Tuesday draw on September 15. With no correct numbers drawn, the jackpot escalated to around €59 million for the next draw on September 18, capturing significant public interest and leading to increased lottery participation in Finland.
– **Cyprus (+26.1%)**: The Joker lottery, jointly run by Greece and Cyprus through OPAP Cyprus, had a prize pool of €9.6 million for its Sunday, September 20, draw, following a rollover. Local sporting events, particularly a 2-2 draw between Apollon Limassol and APOEL on September 19 in the Cypriots' League, further engaged the community.
– **Turkey (+25.9%)**: Key fixtures in the Turkish Super Lig included several notable results: on September 14, Gaziantep FK and Fenerbahçe played to a 0-0 draw, while Trabzonspor delivered a commanding 4-0 defeat to Galatasaray on September 19. The week concluded with Fenerbahçe topping Eyüpspor 8-0 and Amedspor narrowly overcoming Beşiktaş 3-2 on September 20.
– **Moldova (+23.9%)**: The local Liga 7777 conducted matchday 13 on September 19, reflecting a healthy competitive spirit within the country’s top flight.
– **Poland (+20.6%)**: The PKO BP Ekstraklasa was active with matchday 9 running from September 18-20, presenting fresh sporting events that contributed to overall interest.
**Top 5 Decliners of the Week**
– **Belarus (-32.6%)**: Despite active football, including Vitebsk's significant 6-0 victory over Torpedo-BelAZ on September 20, Belarus experienced a notable decline. Regulations concerning gambling marketing appeared to capture more interest than local football during this period.
– **Peru (-30.1%)**: A decline occurred with no evident catalyst identified during the reporting period.
– **Myanmar (-28.6%)**: Reports surfaced on September 14 detailing the detention of seven senior agents in Yangon and Mandalay related to a crackdown on illegal gaming activities, with significant funds seized. Such enforcement efforts typically result in short-term spikes in interest, but the overall index saw a downward trend throughout the week.
– **Mali (-28.9%)**: The week featured limited football activities, mainly last-minute squad changes, with no significant qualifying events to spark interest.
– **Gabon (-27.1%)**: On September 17, new coach Sébatien Migné revealed his squad for upcoming matches against Morocco and Niger, but the absence of star player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang drew less attention.
**Market Highlight: Finland (+29.3%)**
The surge in Finland’s lottery revenues relates specifically to the Eurojackpot's mechanics, not a broader trend in the sports market. With draws on Tuesdays and Fridays in Helsinki, the September 15 draw closed without any category one winners, leading to the increase in the jackpot. The following draw on September 18 revealed an increased prize pool of around €59 million, capturing lasting interest. While sports activities were present, primarily through the SM-liiga and Veikkausliiga, the significant factor behind the spike remained the Eurojackpot rollover.
