This week, the iGaming market saw a notable rebound led by Russia, which surged by 79.9% after suffering a decline of 66.9% last week. The earlier downturn was attributed to the introduction of the national self-exclusion system for gambling. Other countries that recorded gains included Belarus, Peru, Bolivia, and Pennsylvania, boosted by regulatory developments and various sporting events.
On the flip side, Vietnam, Poland, Chile, Italy, and Bulgaria experienced declines, largely influenced by recent enforcement actions and regulations.
**Top 5 Gainers of the Week**
**Russia (+79.9%)**
After last week's downturn, Russia's recovery seems to stem from heightened interest in its voluntary gambling self-exclusion system, announced on September 1. The discussions around this system remained a focal point throughout the week, indicating a rebound in search interest rather than a new regulatory issue.
**Belarus (+64.7%)**
In Belarus, a government crackdown on gambling advertising has prompted increased gambling-related activities. A local operator, Maxline, gained significant attention due to its controversial advertising campaign, which President Aleksandr Lukashenko criticized on September 11, claiming that Belarus was becoming a casino.
**Peru (+62.8%)**
Domestic football has played a crucial role in driving gambling activity in Peru. Matchday 9 of Liga 1 Torneo Clausura occurred from September 11 to 13, marking a high point when Universitario triumphed over Alianza Lima in the Clásico on September 12.
**Bolivia (+57.2%)**
Football remains a major contributor to gambling interest in Bolivia, with key matches including Real Oruro facing Nacional Potosí on September 9. As the domestic title race heats up, Bolívar led the standings with 39 points.
**US-Pennsylvania (+43.7%)**
In Pennsylvania, NFL Week 1 acted as a significant catalyst for gambling. The Philadelphia Eagles faced the Washington Commanders on September 13 at Lincoln Financial Field, with sportsbooks across the state running various promotional offers.
**Top 5 Decliners of the Week**
**Vietnam (-26.2%)**
Vietnam's decline was linked to ongoing issues involving XoilacTV. On September 9, Hung Yen police recommended prosecution for 74 individuals accused of copyright violations and illegal gambling operations. Investigators revealed that the network had facilitated 1,529 unauthorized football matches, with estimated earnings exceeding VND 133 billion (around $5 million) through gambling advertisements.
**Poland (-24.8%)**
Poland's gambling landscape remains under scrutiny as the government targets illegal transactions. The implementation of BLIK's payment-blocking systems on September 1 aimed at countering illegal gambling services remains a key focus area.
**Chile (-24.5%)**
Chile's index dropped following a significant spike caused by Subtel’s DNS-blocking order against illegal betting websites, issued on September 1.
**Italy (-22.1%)**
Italy continues to face regulatory challenges, as the ADM (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli) is involved in an ongoing dispute with Lega Serie A pertaining to True Data.
**Bulgaria (-15.7%)**
Bulgaria's downturn coincided with new public interest in mandatory gambling affiliate licensing procedures implemented on September 1.
**Market Analysis: Russia (+79.9%)**
Russia's statistics show a dramatic turnaround with the Blask Index recovering from a steep drop of 66.9% during the prior week to a robust rise of 79.9%. The self-exclusion initiative was a focal point following its launch on September 1. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, as of September 6, 717 self-exclusion requests had been submitted through various multifunctional centers. The question remains whether this growth signifies genuine interest in self-exclusion or is simply a rebound from the initial dip. Continued rises in the index alongside stable application numbers could suggest a disconnect between market interest and participation in the regulated environment.
