The analytical platform Blask has released its latest weekly report on the week-over-week dynamics of iGaming markets based on the Blask Index. Here are the key insights highlighted by iGN:
Biggest Growth:
- 51.7% — Bolivia: The national team did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but five South American teams, including Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Ecuador, and Colombia, played in the knockout stage, which traditionally boosts player interest in Bolivia.
- 47.5% — Japan: The national team scored first in the knockout match against Brazil on June 29 but lost 1-2, conceding a decisive goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time. This dramatic finish kept player interest alive, contrary to the usual decline after a loss.
- 28.4% — Turkey: Recovering from a 19.2% drop the previous week, Turkey's national team exited the tournament on June 25 during the group stage, but the knockout matches reignited player interest.
- 25.9% — Norway: A victory over Ivory Coast 2-1 in the knockout stage on June 30 and anticipation for the quarterfinal match against Brazil marked Norway's first World Cup since 1998, with the team winning 2-1 in the reporting window and reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in history.
- 24.8% — Malaysia: Recovering from a 22.6% drop the previous week despite a police operation against illegal betting, interest in the 2026 World Cup proved stronger than the pressure from law enforcement.
Biggest Decline:
- 50.1% — USA, Oklahoma: No identified reason for the decline during the reporting period, despite the USA hosting some 2026 World Cup matches.
- 44% — Hungary: A decrease following a 37.5% drop the previous week, attributed to news of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's order to audit the state gambling operator Szerencsejáték Zrt. Interest in this topic has waned, and Hungary is not participating in the 2026 World Cup, leaving no new events to sustain demand.
- 41.6% — USA, North Carolina: No identified reason for the decline during the reporting period.
- 41.2% — USA, Minnesota: No identified reason for the decline during the reporting period.
- 39.4% — Uzbekistan: The national team debuted in the World Cup and lost all three group stage matches, leading to a quick drop in interest after their exit.
According to Blask analysts, this week's dynamics largely mirror the previous week, with Turkey, Malaysia, and France recovering from significant drops, while Hungary, Latvia, and Uzbekistan saw growth turn into decline. Analysts expect interest to rise during the final matches of the quarterfinals and the 2026 World Cup, both in participating countries and beyond. Norway's victory over Brazil, marking the country's first quarterfinal, could further boost interest among Norwegian players. In Turkey, however, a notable decline may occur for non-sporting reasons, as the Financial Crimes Investigation Council (MASAK) may begin sending notifications of fines to players related to the Paymix case, with prosecutors having data on 3.2 million citizens linked to illegal operators. Analysts estimate that this scenario will reveal whether fines can reduce demand where domain blocking has not had a comparable effect.