The analytical platform Blask has shared its latest weekly report on the WoW dynamics of iGaming markets based on the Blask Index. Here are the key insights highlighted by iGN:
Biggest Growth:
- 38.9% — Ukraine: The Blask Index rose by 495,000 points to 1.77 million, marking the strongest performance for 2026. On April 10, the Ukrainian Gambling Business Association opposed a government project for a total gambling ban affecting over a million military personnel, proposing a model for targeted restrictions initiated by commanders. The illegal segment is estimated to account for 39-53% of the market, with a legal segment worth €1.18 billion and 34 licenses. Ukrainian publication Dev.ua noted a record surge in gambling-related search queries in regions with high military concentration.
- 33.8% — Ireland: The Grand National horse racing week at Aintree, the largest betting event in the Irish calendar, contributed to this growth. Irish trainers have dominated at Aintree, with Willie Mullins winning the last two editions.
- 33.3% — Turkey: With a Blask Index increase of 6.1 million points, Turkey saw the largest absolute growth of the week. The Süper Lig football championship is heating up with Galatasaray leading, followed by Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor, alongside the first quarterfinal matches of the Champions League.
- 22.9% — Myanmar: Analysts at Blask view this growth as a technical correction due to low index volume.
- 20.6% — Lithuania: Similar to Myanmar, this growth coincided with the Champions League quarterfinals, boosting iGaming activity across Europe.
Biggest Decline:
- 44.8% — Norway: A correction following a 46.2% increase the previous week.
- 29.7% — Colombia: A correction after a 26.3% rise the week before.
- 21.6% — Venezuela: No clear reason identified for the decline.
- 19.5% — Dominican Republic: No clear reason identified for the decline.
- 11.7% — El Salvador: No clear reason identified; the index volume was 175,000 points, with fluctuations within normal volatility.
According to Blask analysts, European markets occupied eight out of ten positions among the growth leaders. Africa, which dominated the previous report, did not appear in the list of leaders or laggards. The return matches of the Champions League quarterfinals on April 14-15 are expected to support iGaming activity in Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, and the UK. In Turkey, the Istanbul derby and Süper Lig matches will take place. Ireland and the UK may experience a slight decline after the Grand National, but the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, April 21, is likely to mitigate this effect in the Irish market.