iGaming in Venezuela remains strong after US operation, according to Blask data
Venezuela started 2026 at the centre of international attention. On 3 January, the United States Armed Forces carried out an operation in Caracas and detained Nicolás Maduro, taking the president to face charges in New York. The action marked a peak moment in a US strategy that had been escalating for months through sanctions, a growing military presence and targeted attacks.
With an event of that scale, many people in the iGaming industry had an obvious question: Would this crush demand in the country? Would people stop betting and playing online? Or would the market simply continue at its usual pace? Data from Blask, a platform specialising in market intelligence for iGaming, helps provide answers.
First days after the operation: almost no change
The Blask Index, an indicator that measures the volume of user interest and activity, shows that demand remained practically stable between 1 and 4 January. Even on the day of the operation, when the index dropped by around 5% and hit 257.4 thousand points, the decline was short-lived – by the following day, it had already begun to recover.
On the chart covering the period from 30 December to 6 January, there is some fluctuation but no drastic break. The index closed on 6 January at around 229 thousand, which is still considered high for the local standard. In other words, there was no “blackout” in interest. The dip falls within normal parameters. Despite the political chaos, people continued to bet.
This scenario becomes even more interesting when looking at the yearly picture. According to Blask’s country rankings, Venezuela recorded one of the highest iGaming demand growth rates in 2025: +134.9% year-on-year (YoY). This puts the country in 2nd place globally, behind only El Salvador, which saw a +211.9% surge. Jordan, the Philippines and Costa Rica complete the Top 5, all with growth rates above 120%.
Month-on-month (MoM), Venezuela also posted +10.27%, indicating a strong market even before the political crisis.
Another relevant Blask insight from 2025 was market concentration. The brand Triunfo Bet reached 59% of BAP (Brand Accumulated Power), a metric indicating how much user interest each brand captures in a given country. This result represents a +15 percentage point increase compared to the start of the year. The three largest brands in the country combined for over 85% of BAP, a gain of +11 percentage points over the year.
For new operators and affiliates, this significantly changes the landscape. Entering Venezuela may require more media investment, segmentation and positioning, since the market is far from fragmented.
What operators and affiliates should do now
Despite the political tension, the recommendation for those already operating in the region is not to panic, but to readjust their radar:
Continue operating: There are no signs of structural decline. Demand remained firm, even at the peak of the political crisis.
Monitor data frequently: Blask itself suggests comparing pre- and post-operation periods using the same brand portfolio.
This article was first published in Portuguese on 14 January 2026.
