Online sports betting, known as “bets”, is gaining popularity among young people in Brazil. And this is attracting 15% of the population, who report spending an average of R$263 per month, according to a Datafolha survey.
This aspect is more prevalent among young people and men. All this, with almost a third (30%) of Brazilians between 16 and 24 years old stating that they have already made a bet.
Despite the legal prohibition for those under 18, there are reports of a growing spread of betting among young people and teenagers, leading to problematic cases.
Betting activity predominates among men, with 21% of them reporting having placed a bet, in contrast to 9% of women.
More details about the research
The survey, carried out on December 5, 2023, also revealed that half of gamblers admit to having lost more money than they won.
The study was conducted through 2,004 face-to-face interviews in 135 municipalities, covering people aged 16 and over from all regions of the country.
Brazil has allowed sports betting websites since 2018, during the government of Michel Temer (MDB).
Since then, these sites have dominated public TV advertising, especially during football games, and flooded social media with ads promoted by famous influencers.
However, the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) did not regulate the market during its four years in office, resulting in an increase in the number of betting houses aimed at the Brazilian public, without clear rules of operation and supervision.
In 2023, an investigation into a match-fixing scheme in football matches came to light, highlighting the need for regulation.
Sports betting regulation
Lula’s (PT) government began the regulatory process last year, culminating in the approval of a new law to define the taxation and operation of betting companies.
Furthermore, these companies will be required to obtain accreditation to operate in Brazil. At the moment, most companies that offer online betting in the country have their headquarters abroad.
The government expects complete regulation to be completed by the first half of this year. The legislation addresses fixed-odd games, where it is possible to know how much you can win with a bet, such as the results of a football game.
During the processing of the sports betting bill in the Chamber, deputies included online games, casinos and other online games in a virtual environment.
It is estimated that up to 80% of the sector’s turnover comes from these activities.
The new legislation already includes items related to responsible gambling and concerns about advertising to minors. As well as the allocation of resources to the SUS (Unified Health System) for measures related to social damage caused by games.