iGaming market weekly report | Dec 15–21, 2025

In this week’s digest, we continue tracking where iGaming player attention is accelerating or cooling, using week-over-week (WoW) moves in Blask Index.

Week’s headline

Saudi Arabia (-50%), Ethiopia (-36%), and Dominican Republic (+34%) led volatility this week. Saudi Arabia’s drop was a technical correction after last week’s +270% spike, while Ethiopia’s abrupt license revocations collapsed demand overnight and Dominican Republic surged amid seasonal betting activity tied to the Professional Baseball League.

Note: WoW changes reflect Blask Index data; catalysts cited only when publicly documented during Dec 15–21.

Top gainers

1. Dominican Republic +33.6% — Dominican Professional Baseball League postseason drives seasonal betting spike ahead of January finals.
2. Moldova +30.1%.
3. Egypt +19.1% — Africa Cup of Nations 2025 kicks off December 21 in Morocco; Egypt among tournament favourites with Mohamed Salah headlining.
4. Philippines +18.7% — PAGCOR reports record Q4 online betting surge amid holiday festivities; G2E Asia @ Philippines (Dec 10-11) elevated industry attention.
5. Togo +17.9% — Domestic football interest lifted attention as D1 LONATO fixtures were played over Dec 20–21.

Top decliners

1. Saudi Arabia -50.2% — Technical correction following +270% spike in prior week.
2. Ethiopia -35.6% — The Ethiopian Lottery Service revoked all sports betting licenses effective Dec 15.
3. Colombia -29.1% — Senate rejected permanent 19% VAT measure on Dec 15; uncertainty persists through year-end expiration.
4. Bolivia -19.3%.
5. Guatemala -18.7%.

Spotlight: Ethiopia | -35.6%

What happened

The Ethiopian Lottery Service revoked all sports betting licenses effective December 15, 2025, ordering immediate cessation of all wagering activity nationwide. The directive followed a criminal investigation into alleged revenue concealment exceeding $640M, with 24 suspects arrested across several operators.

Why it matters

• Opportunity: Near-zero for direct market entry; monitor for potential re-licensing framework in 12-18 months as government reassesses sector oversight.
• Risk: Operators with Ethiopian exposure face immediate compliance obligations including data preservation requirements; banks instructed to block all betting-related transactions.

Watch: If shutdown extends beyond Q1 2026, expect permanent market restructuring rather than temporary suspension.

Regional snapshot

Latin America & Caribbean

Sharp polarity defined the region: Dominican Republic (+33.6%) led on seasonal betting momentum as the Professional Baseball League approaches its January finals. Colombia (-29.1%) contracted despite Senate rejection of permanent VAT — the 19% levy still expires Dec 31, creating year-end uncertainty.

Middle East

Saudi Arabia’s -50.2% contraction reflects a technical correction following last week’s anomalous +270% spike rather than any regulatory catalyst. The structural posture remains prohibition-driven with high short-term volatility typical of restricted markets.

Africa

North Africa (Egypt +19.1%, Algeria +17.6%) showed strength amid the AFCON 2025 kick-off. Togo (+17.9%) also climbed as domestic football interest rose around D1 LONATO fixtures.

Asia-Pacific

The Philippines delivered the week’s best scale-plus-growth combination, driven by PAGCOR’s record Q4 online betting performance. India (+11.1%) rose, supported by heightened cricket-driven search interest around the T20I and WT20I series.

Next week’s watchlist

Colombia — 19% VAT expiration (Dec 31). Expected impact: Potential relief rally if tax burden lifts.

Ethiopia — Bank transaction freeze enforcement. Expected impact: Continued demand suppression; watch for government statements on sector future.

South Africa — National Gambling Amendment Bill committee activity. Expected impact: Any advancement could trigger attention spike as operators front-load marketing ahead of potential ad rule changes.

Methodology note

Blask Index tracks real-time iGaming player interest via AI-analyzed Google search data, updated hourly with up to 95% correlation with actual market share. WoW % measures momentum: positive = growing attention, negative = declining. The metric filters out noise queries (scams, complaints) to isolate genuine demand signals.