The Philippines Overtakes Brazil in Global Online Gaming Search Demand

The Philippines became the world's leading market for online gaming-related search demand in September 2026, surpassing Brazil and India, according to Blask. The country's search index increased by 87% year-on-year, highlighting growing consumer interest in gaming platforms.

The Philippines has overtaken Brazil to become the global leader in online gaming search demand, according to September 2026 data published by gaming analytics company Blask.

The Philippine Blask Index increased by 87% compared with September 2025 and rose 8% from August. Meanwhile, Brazil recorded a 31% year-on-year decline and a 9% monthly decrease, ending its eight-month lead over the Philippines.

The Blask Index measures consumer interest in online gaming brands using search data and artificial intelligence. However, it does not directly measure gambling expenditure or actual operator revenue.

Despite losing its leading position in search demand, Brazil remained the larger market in terms of projected earnings. Its Competitive Earning Baseline (CEB), Blask's revenue estimation metric, was 53% higher than the Philippine figure in September.

The analysis also revealed differences in market regulation. Licensed operators accounted for 97% of Brazil's estimated gaming revenue, compared with 62% in the Philippines.

In the Philippine market, three brands — PlayTime, Casino Plus and BingoPlus — generated more than half of all measured online gaming search demand, reflecting their strong visibility among local consumers.

The ranking change also coincided with Brazil's nationwide betting prohibition introduced on September 25. Licensed operators were subsequently required to shut down their platforms by October 6, although the September figures do not yet capture the full impact of the closure.

The findings highlight the Philippines' growing importance in the global iGaming industry. However, the divergence between search demand and projected revenue demonstrates that consumer interest alone does not determine market size or profitability. For operators and technology providers, both indicators remain essential when evaluating emerging opportunities