This week, the iGaming sector saw significant growth in Finland, marking a 29.3% rise, primarily attributed to the escalating Eurojackpot. Meanwhile, Ireland observed a more modest 9.3% increase, still notable in the commercial landscape. Amid these developments, Stake, a gaming platform, blocked Irish users from its services following interactions with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), a story that surfaced during this reporting period.
Turkey's iGaming market benefited from a 25.9% surge, coinciding with the third round of the Super League, which brought about several surprising match outcomes and increased sports-related search inquiries.
**Top 5 Gainers of the Week**
**Finland (+29.3%)**
The Eurojackpot, a transnational lottery operated from Helsinki by Veikkaus, boasted a prize pool of approximately €48 million ahead of its draw on September 15. After no one correctly picked the winning numbers, the prize escalated to around €59 million for the next draw on September 18. The jackpot rollover significantly fueled interest among Finnish players.
**Cyprus (+26.1%)**
The Joker lottery, which is a collaboration between Greece and Cyprus and managed by OPAP Cyprus, announced a prize pool of €9.6 million for its last game on September 20, following a previous rollover. Local football also played a part in raising engagement, with Apollon Limassol and APOEL drawing 2-2 on September 19 in a Cypriot league match organized by Stoiximan.
**Turkey (+25.9%)**
The Turkish Super Lig schedule provided several pivotal football events during the week. Noteworthy results included a scoreless match between Gaziantep FK and Fenerbahçe on September 14, Trabzonspor thrashing Galatasaray 4-0 on September 19, and Fenerbahçe's remarkable 8-0 victory over Eyüpspor, alongside Amedspor narrowly overcoming Beşiktaş 3-2 on September 20.
**Moldova (+23.9%)**
Moldova's Liga 7777, named after the national betting and lottery brand 7777.md, held its 13th matchday on September 19.
**Poland (+20.6%)**
The PKO BP Ekstraklasa organized matchday 9 from September 18 to 20, attracting fresh sports interest during the week.
**Top 5 Decliners of the Week**
**Belarus (-32.6%)**
Despite active local football, highlighted by Vitebsk's impressive 6-0 win over Torpedo-BelAZ on September 20, the index declined as discussions around gambling marketing regulations seemed to capture more interest than actual sporting events.
**Peru (-30.1%)**
No distinct factors were identified to explain the decline during this period.
**Myanmar (-28.6%)**
Reports indicated police apprehended seven senior agents in Yangon and Mandalay on September 14. Investigations surrounding 36 detainees linked to an underground syndicate captured attention, with MMK 396.8 million frozen across 12 accounts. While law enforcement news typically generates immediate interest, overall engagement fell throughout the week.
**Mali (-28.9%)**
Football activities in Mali were primarily limited to late squad changes, with new player announcements affecting team dynamics around September 18. The absence of major qualifying matches during this timeframe contributed to a lack of significant search increases.
**Gabon (-27.1%)**
On September 17, Sébatien Migné revealed his initial squad for upcoming matches against Morocco on September 25 and Niger on September 29. Notably, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was excluded from this selection.
**Market Spotlight: Finland (+29.3%)**
Finland's lottery revenue surge is linked not just to lottery mechanics but also indicates the country’s engagement in the sports market. Eurojackpot draws take place on Tuesdays and Fridays in Helsinki, with the September 15 draw ending without a winning ticket, leading to a significant prize pool. The ongoing rollover sparked sustained interest from players, who closely monitored the growing jackpot and anticipated the next draw. Though local sports also drew some attention, especially with challenges faced by teams in the SM-liiga and engaging events in Veikkausliiga, they remain secondary to the Eurojackpot's allure, which captivated players throughout the week.
