Betting: 40 million Brazilians placed bets in the last year, according to a CNDL/SPC survey.
Approximately 40 million consumers paid for at least one online bet or game in the last 12 months, reveals a survey previewed for Miriam Leitão's blog in O Globo , conducted by the National Confederation of Retail Leaders (CNDL) and the Credit Protection Service (SPC Brasil), in partnership with Offerwise Pesquisas. Sports betting is the most popular (54% of bettors), especially among men. Among casino games, slots (28%), roulette (22%) and slot machines (20%) stand out.
According to the survey, the main reasons for starting to bet are curiosity (35%), the desire to make money quickly and easily (22%), and the search for adrenaline or fun (22%). Regarding usage, 24% of bettors say they gamble weekly, 18% two to three times a week, and 11% bet every day.
Research shows that the most used payment method is Pix (76% of transactions), followed by credit cards (11%). The average monthly spending on betting is R$ 187, rising to R$ 255 in classes A and B.
Regarding their budget, 19% of gamblers admitted to spending amounts that compromised their income, while 41% said they gave up consumption to gamble, mainly on eating out (15%), internet (12%), groceries (12%), and family outings (10%). Furthermore, 17% stopped paying some bills to gamble, and 29% have already had their names added to credit blacklists due to online gambling expenses, with 17% still in that situation.
– The research results raise an urgent alert about the consequences of the uncontrolled growth of online gambling in the country. The high rate of indebtedness, the substitution of essential expenses with spending on games, and the serious impacts on mental health show that this 'entertainment' is becoming a social and economic problem. It is essential that the regulation of the sector prioritizes consumer protection, especially for young people and families, and not just revenue collection. We need public policies that treat gambling addiction as an illness, with awareness campaigns and stricter limits on advertising and payment methods – highlights the president of CNDL, José César da Costa, in a statement.
According to the survey, 28% of gamblers have already sought or considered actions to obtain money for gambling, such as taking out loans (17%), salary advances (8%), or even selling their own or family's property without consent (7%). An alarming statistic is that 37% said they have tried to reduce or stop gambling, but were unable to. However, only 21% sought help, with the main sources of support being the church, relatives/friends, and professionals such as doctors or psychologists.
