The analytical platform Blask has shared its latest weekly report on the week-over-week dynamics of iGaming markets based on the Blask Index. Here are the key highlights:
Biggest Growth:
- 19.8% — Czech Republic: The start of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, with the Czech team winning against Denmark on May 15 and losing to Slovenia in overtime on May 16, remains a key annual event for Czech players.
- 18.6% — Turkey: The Paymix-3 investigation revealed over 3 million users with national identification numbers in the records of illegal bookmakers, with fines potentially reaching $8,800 per person. This topic was widely discussed in national media throughout the week.
- 16.4% — Slovakia: The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship began with two victories for the Slovak team against Norway on May 16 and Italy on May 17, placing Slovakia in a tie for first in Group B with Canada.
- 10.7% — Lithuania: The EuroLeague playoff series between BC Žalgiris (Kaunas) and BC Fenerbahçe reached a decisive fifth game on May 13 in Istanbul, where BC Fenerbahçe won in overtime and advanced to the Final Four.
- 8.6% — Finland: The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship started with two victories for the Finnish team, along with participation in the Eurovision Grand Final on May 17 as the bookmakers' main favorite.
Biggest Decline:
- 28.5% — Singapore: A correction followed a 28.7% increase the previous week, attributed to the $10 million Toto lottery jackpot on May 4, with demand falling due to the absence of a comparable draw during the reporting week.
- 24.2% — El Salvador: Despite the national football league semifinals with first matches on May 13-14 and return matches on May 16-17, market fluctuations from 11.7% to 13.5% in recent weeks led Blask analysts to view the dynamics as a continuation of previous volatility without a clear cause.
- 21.6% — Ecuador: Ecuadorian clubs had no Copa Libertadores matches, with the next group stage round starting on May 19.
- 20.2% — South Korea: A correction followed a 20.3% increase the previous week amidst nationwide raids on illegal poker bars, with media attention on the topic dwindling.
- 19.3% — Morocco: The Casablanca derby between Raja CA and Wydad AC on May 9 peaked last week, but no matches were held during the reporting week, and the first match of the CAF Champions League final on May 17, which resulted in a loss for FAR Rabat, did not generate comparable interest.
According to Blask analysts, the main catalyst for growth in Turkey was the Paymix-3 investigation, the third major operation in the country in 2026. In addition to identifying 3.17 million users, the operation also led to the shutdown of 49 illegal betting resources and the scrutiny of 67,400 bank accounts. Following each previous operation, there was a spike in interest followed by a partial return; with the transition from identification to actual fines, a repeat spike is possible. The IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will continue until May 31, supporting the activity of hockey markets in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, and Canada, with a face-off between the Czech Republic and Slovakia scheduled for May 23. The EuroLeague Final Four on May 22-24 in Athens, featuring semifinals between Olympiacos and Fenerbahçe and Real Madrid and Valencia, will support the markets in Greece, Turkey, and Spain. The final rounds of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in cricket until May 24 will remain the main catalyst for the Indian iGaming market.