This week’s market upside was let by Russia, with the +79.9%, after last week’s decline of −66.9%. The decline was connected to the launch of its nationwide self-exclusion system.
The other gainers of the week were identified by regulatory headlines and various sports activities. Among them was Belarus with a renewed scrutiny of gambling advertising, Peru, Bolivia, Pennsylvania that were benefited from active football and NFL calendars.
The downside of the week was highlighted with Vietnam, Poland, Chile, Italy and Bulgaria. All of them recorded declines based on the recent enforcement and regulatory stories.
Top 5 Gainers of the Week
Russia (+79.9%)
As mentioned, Russia posted strong rebound +79.9% after last week. On September 1 Russia announced the launch of nationwide voluntary gambling self-exclusion system, which remained at the centre of coverage throughout the week. The move appears to represent a rebound in search interest around the new system after the initial launch-week decline, rather than a new regulatory event.
Belarus (+64.7%)
Gambling-related activities have surged in Belarus due to the government’s crackdown on gambling advertisement activities.
Maxline, a local operator, was at the center of attention due to its memorable goose advertisement. On September 11, President Aleksandr Lukashenko condemned Maxline for its advertising activities and said that Belarus has become a casino.
Interest in gambling has resurfaced because of the political interest in gambling advertising.
Peru (+62.8%)
Domestic football has been the main driver of gambling in Peru. Liga 1 Torneo Clausura Matchday 9 was played from September 11 to September 13, and among the most highlighted events of this period was the defeat of Alianza Lima versus Universitario in Clásico on September 12.
Bolivia (+57.2%)
Football remained the main source of gambling interest in Bolivia. Real Oruro played Nacional Potosí on September 9 in Copa de la División Profesional, while several Primera División games were played on September 13-14.
Bolívar opened the week with 39 points in the table and remained the center of attention of the domestic title race.
US-Pennsylvania (+43.7%)
NFL Week 1 has become a significant catalyst for gambling in Pennsylvania. On September 13, the Philadelphia Eagles played Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field, where sportsbooks across the state ran various promotions.
Top 5 Decliners of the Week
Vietnam (-26.2%)
Vietnam’s decrease is connected to the persistent repercussions of XoilacTV. On September 9th, the Hung Yen police suggested that 74 individuals face prosecution regarding the charges of copyright violation, the illegal operation of gambling businesses, and the dissemination of immoral content.
As per the investigators, the network has broadcasted 1,529 football matches without permission, and has earned more than VND 133 billion (around $5 million) due to the advertising of online gambling platforms with the help of both the 90 Phut and Cakhia projects.
Poland (-24.8%)
Poland continues to attract the governmental attention towards illegal gambling transactions. The BLIK’s payment-blocking systems of September 1st, designed to prevent the illegal gambling services listed by the Ministry of Finance, have remained the focus.
Chile (-24.5%)
Chile’s Index dropped after the major surge triggered by the Subtel’s September 1st DNS-blocking order against the sites of illegal betting.
Italy (-22.1%)
The ADM (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli) continued its conflict with Lega Serie A regarding the True Data..
Bulgaria (-15.7%)
Bulgaria’s decline happened after the public interest in the mandatory gambling affiliate licensing procedures, which took effect on September 1st.
Market analysis: Russia (+79.9%)
Russia experienced one of the biggest reversals in the weekly statistics, as the Blask Index dropped by 66.9% during August 31–September 6 and then grew by 79.9% in the next week.
The same policy continues to be in focus. The voluntary gambling self-exclusion program was launched nationwide on September 1, and as per the update from the Ministry of Economic Development dated September 8, there were 717 self-exclusion requests submitted via the multifunctional centers by September 6.
The question is whether the recent growth reflects the increasing interest in self-exclusion or simply the consequence of the initial launch week’s drop.
If the Index continues to rise while the number of applications is rather stable, this might mean that the interest and the participation in the legal regulated market are no longer connected.
Blask Index tracks real-time iGaming player interest via AI-analyzed Google search data, updated hourly and filtered to remove low-intent noise (scams, complaints). WoW% measures momentum: positive indicates growing attention; negative indicates declining attention.
